Avoiding pitfalls in diagnostic immunohistochemistry-important technical aspects that every pathologist should know

Area of Science:

• Pathology
• Laboratory Medicine
• Histotechnology

Background:

• Diagnostic immunohistochemistry (IHC) is crucial for accurate disease diagnosis.
• Methodological and interpretational challenges can lead to diagnostic errors.
• Standardization and quality control are essential for reliable IHC results.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review technical aspects of diagnostic IHC.
• To address common pitfalls in IHC methodology and interpretation.
• To provide practical guidance for practicing pathologists.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature and best practices in IHC.
• Discussion of problematic aspects in IHC methodology.
• Illustration and description of common artifacts and useful techniques.

Main Results:

• Identification of critical areas for IHC quality improvement.
• Emphasis on the importance of appropriate controls, including multi-tissue controls.
• Guidance on optimizing IHC for challenging specimens like cytology and decalcified tissues.

Conclusions:

• Adherence to standardized techniques and proper controls can minimize IHC errors.
• Advanced techniques can overcome limitations with difficult specimens.
• This review provides practical strategies to enhance the reliability of diagnostic IHC.