Diagnostic value of immunohistochemistry in soft tissue tumors

Abstract

Background: Diagnosis of soft tissue tumors is a great challenge to pathologist but with the help of immunohistochemistry (IHC), proper analysis and diagnosis of soft tissue tumours can be made easy. The main use of immunohistochemistry in soft tissue neoplasms especially in sarcomas is to identify differentiation in the neoplastic cells.IHC are used as a panel or as single marker depending on the tumor. Methods:A total of 513 soft tissue tumor (STT) cases were collected and reviewed. The cases were separated into as benign, intermediate and malignant cases. In 90 cases of STT in which immunohistochemistry (IHC) were used was further analysed and classified depending on the various positivity and negativity of the marker used .The significance of IHC was also analysed. Result:In our study of 513 cases of STT there were 380 benign cases, 90 malignant cases and 43 intermediate cases. A total of 90 cases of sarcomas were present out of which 54% cases required IHC, 20 % cases required IHC to support the diagnosis but 26% of cases did not require IHC, the diagnosis was made on haematoxylin and eosin (H&E). The IHC markers helped in correct diagnosis of STT cases. Conclusion:Immunohistochemistry plays an important role in grading and giving precise diagnosis of soft tissue tumors. So it is important to use IHC to diagnose STT where haematoxylin and eosin did not give a precise diagnosis. Perfect diagnosis of STT helps in the correct therapeutic management of patients.