Detection of EA,E-cadherin,CEA,TTF-1,CK5/6 and calretinin in the differential diagnosis of adenocarcinoma and mesothelial cells

Objective To evaluate the value of combining detection of epithelial antigen(EA),E-cadherin,carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA),thyroid transcription factor-1(TTF-1),calretinin,and cytokeratin 5/6(CK5/6)in differential diagnosis of pleural effusion.Methods Pleural effusion specimens of 34 cases of metastatic adenocarcinoma and 29 cases of reactive mesothelium hyperplasia were prepared cell blocks.Immunocytochemical staining was performed on cell block sections.Results In diagnosing metastatic adenocarcinoma,the sensitivities of EA,E-cadherin,CEA and TTF-1 were 91.2%,88.2.4%,85.3% and 91.2%,the specificities were 100%,100%,96.6% and 96.6%.The sensitivity of calretinin and CK5/6 for mesothelial cells was 100%,93.1%,and the specificity was 97.1%,94.1%.Conclusion The combination of EA,E-cadherin,CEA,TTF-1,calretinin and CK5/6 is a very useful antibody in cytological diferential diagnosis of metastatic adenocarcinoma and mesothelial cells in pleural effusion.