Easy-To-Perform Dual Immunohistochemistry Can Solve Problems in Hematopathology

Immunohistochemical analysis has become an integral component in the diagnostic work up of hematopoietic neoplasms. It is not uncommon that visualization of single protein expression by immunohistochemistry among cells of interest may become a difficult task. Common scenarios of such include extensive colonization of germinal centers in the differential diagnosis of marginal zone lymphoma and follicular lymphoma, low-level bone marrow involvement by lymphoma and paucity of neoplastic lymphocytes in the setting of numerous background reactive lymphocytes, among others. For this reason, we have developed a variety of easy-to-employ dual-color dual-antibody immunohistochemical assays to aid in solving these diagnostic dilemmas. Herein, we share examples of our use of dual immunohistochemistry to illustrate its beneficial and practical objective.