Detection of cervical lymph node metastasis with cytokeratin immunohistochemical staining

Objective To evaluate the sensitivity of cytokeratin immunohistochemical staining in detection of cervical lymph node metastases of oral squanous cell carcinoma.Methods Cervical lymph nodes (N=1638) were collected from 26 patients with primary oral squamous cell carcinoma. Each lymph node was sectioned at the interval of 0.5 mm and cross-detected with cytokeratin immunohistochemical detection and traditional cytomorphological detection (HE staining).Results Of 26 patients, lymphatic metastasis were identified in 21 patients with HE staining, whereas cytokeratin immunohistochemical staining showed lymphatic metastasis in all 26 patients. Of 1638 lymph nodes, 52 metastatic foci were detected with HE staining while 162 by cytokeratin immunohistochemical staining.Conclusion Cytokeratin immunohistochemical staining is more sensitive in detection of cervical lymph node metastasis than the traditional HE staining.