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Immunohistochemistry in surgical pathology practice: a current perspective of a simple, powerful, yet complex, tool
Nirmala Ajit Jambhekar1, Anshuman C Chaturvedi, Bhulaxmi Prakash Madur
1Department of Pathology, Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. najambhekar@rediffmail.com
Insights
Immunohistochemistry (IHC) is a vital diagnostic tool for pathologists. This review addresses key challenges and current perspectives in IHC to ensure reliable results in clinical practice.
Area of Science:
- Surgical Pathology
- Immunohistochemistry
- Diagnostic Tools
Background:
- Immunohistochemistry (IHC) has become indispensable in surgical pathology.
- The utilization of IHC and monoclonal antibodies has significantly expanded over the last decade.
- Growing reliance on IHC necessitates a focus on its technical aspects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a current perspective on Immunohistochemistry (IHC).
- To highlight the increasing importance of technical reproducibility and quality assurance in IHC.
- To address challenges in IHC interpretation and inter-laboratory comparability.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature and practices in Immunohistochemistry.
- Analysis of factors influencing technical reproducibility and interpretation.
- Discussion of quality assurance measures in IHC.
Main Results:
- The increasing demand for IHC underscores the need for standardized protocols.
- Ensuring uniformity in interpretation and inter-laboratory comparability is crucial.
- Addressing technical challenges is essential for reliable IHC results.
Conclusions:
- Immunohistochemistry is a powerful yet complex tool in surgical pathology.
- Standardization and quality assurance are paramount for the effective use of IHC.
- A current perspective is offered to navigate the complexities of IHC in diagnostics and therapy.
Abstract:
Immunohistochemistry (IHC) is a powerful tool in the surgical pathologists' armamentarium. The requests for IHC and the list of monoclonal antibodies have increased tremendously in the past decade. Issues concerning technical reproducibility, uniformity of interpretation, inter-laboratory comparability, and quality assurance are assuming greater importance due to the increased availability of IHC and its impact on diagnosis and therapy. An attempt has been made to give a current perspective of this simple and yet, in some aspects, a complex tool.
