Related Experiment Videos
Bone marrow metastasis in Ewing's sarcoma and peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumor: An immunohistochemical
1Department of Paediatric Pathology, St. Michael's Hospital, Southwell Street, Bristol BS2 8EG, UK.
Summary
Immunohistochemistry using CD99 antibodies aids in diagnosing small round cell tumors like Ewing's sarcoma or PNET in bone marrow. It is most useful when routine staining is unclear due to abnormalities.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Pathology
- Immunohistochemistry
Background:
- Small round cell tumors, including Ewing's sarcoma and primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNET), can metastasize to the bone marrow.
- Diagnosing bone marrow metastases from these tumors can be challenging using conventional methods.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the diagnostic utility of immunohistochemistry with CD99 antibodies for detecting bone marrow metastases.
- To compare the efficacy of CD99 immunohistochemistry against routine staining in bone marrow trephine specimens.
Main Methods:
- Bone marrow trephine specimens from patients with suspected Ewing's sarcoma or PNET were analyzed.
- Immunohistochemistry was performed using two different monoclonal antibodies to CD99.
- Specimens were also examined using routine light microscopy staining.
Main Results:
- Metastases were detected in 20.7% of specimens using CD99 immunohistochemistry, compared to 10.3% with routine staining.
- Specimens negative by conventional microscopy but positive by immunohistochemistry showed other pathological abnormalities.
- No significant difference in efficacy was observed between the two CD99 antibodies tested.
Conclusions:
- CD99 immunohistochemistry can improve the detection rate of bone marrow metastases from small round cell tumors.
- Routine use of CD99 immunohistochemistry is not recommended for specimens with normal histology on conventional light microscopy.
- Immunohistochemistry is valuable in cases where bone marrow histology is compromised by fibrosis, necrosis, or artifacts.