DETECTION OF OCCULT LYMPH NODE METASTATIC CARCINOMA BY IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL METHODAND CYTOKERATIN MARKER

Immunohistochemical staining with an anticytokeratin antibody is useful in identifying isolated carcinoma tumor cells in lymph nodes missed in routine hematoxylin – eosin staining. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of occult lymph node microscopic metastases by the immunohistochemically method in patients with various carcinoma. By a retrospective study at the university medical center (GHAEM Hospital) twenty eight patients who had carcinoma in various organs were investigated. 132 negative lymph nodes as determined by H×E staining and conventional microscopic examination were selected. All of these underwent additional sectioning and staining with H×E and an immunohistochemical stain. All of the specimens were reevaluated by two pathologist, immunohistochemical staining was performed using pancytokeratin AE1/AE3 antibody and these results were concluded. Examination of 132 lymph nodes from 28 specimens revealed 19 micrometastases (%14.3). The most numerous positive lymph nodes were in gastric carcinoma (%27), and the least positive lymph node was seen in colonic carcinoma (%3.3). The location of tumoral cells in lymph nodes in five cases were sinusoidal, one case in subcapsular and 13 cases in both sinusoial and subcapsular. According to results of this study the immunohistochemical method is recommended for diagnostic use in negative lymph nodes for metastasis reported by routine hematoxylin-eosin staining. According to the results of this study we believe that immunohistochemichal methods enhance the detection of occult micrometastases in lymph-node beside different tumors and are recommended for diagnostic use in