The role of immunohistochemistry in diagnosis

Immunohistochemistry is a strong tool in hepatopathologic diagnosis: the technique is relatively simple and inexpensive. New and very sensitive detection methods have been recently developed (e.g., the EnVision technique and the microwave antigen retrieval method). This article discusses the role of immunohistochemistry in differentiating chronic cholestatic diseases from chronic hepatitis and in characterizing infectious agents. Algorythms for the typing of lymphomas and for the differentiation of primary tumors versus metastases are proposed as well. The immunohistochemical criteria for the diagnosis of premalignant lesions are discussed.