Canine mast cell tumors: a comparison of staining techniques

Twelve histochemical methods; affinity staining with avidin peroxidase, wheat germ agglutinin, and concavalin-A agglutinin; and an immunohistochemical stain with Kp1 (CD68) antibody were compared for their relative effectiveness in staining canine mast cell tumors. Stains were compared in 28 mast cell tumors and 19 histiocytomas. The effectiveness of the histochemical methods and the lectins decreased as the mast cells became less differentiated. None of the staining methods were positive on histiocytomas. Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) gave positive results in a few cases of mast cell tumors where other histochemical stains were negative. Although avidin peroxidase and Kp1 antibody stained more mast cell tumors than any other method, they did not differ significantly from Luna's method, toluidine blue pH 0.5, toluidine blue pH 4.5, alcian blue pH 2.5, safranin O, Unna's method, and Giemsa. No stain was ideal for the diagnosis of canine mast cell tumors; however, this study suggests that the use of avidin peroxidase, Kp1 antibody, and PAS may give additional information for individual poorly differentiated tumors without substantial increase in time or cost.