Abstract
Although 'aberrant' expression of the epithelial markers, cytokeratin (CK) and epithelial membrane antigen (EMA), in leiomyosarcoma has been described previously, there has not been a study of this phenomenon with clinicopathological correlation in a large series of lesions at different anatomical sites. We investigated systematically the immunohistochemical reactivity for CK and EMA in 100 cases of leiomyosarcoma. CK and EMA were positive in 38% and 44% of the cases, respectively. Although staining was usually focal, extensive immunoreactivity was observed in 11% with CK and 6% with EMA. There was no correlation between immunoreactivity for CK and EMA in leiomyosarcomas and non-neoplastic smooth muscle at the same location. Immunoreactivity for CK and EMA was not correlated with the location, age, sex, histological grade, or histological features, except for more frequent EMA positivity in vascular and uterine tumors than in soft tissue cases. These results indicate that CK and/or EMA-positive leiomyosarcomas do not have distinctive clinicopathological features differing from those of negative cases. However, the considerable frequency of immunoreactivity for these epithelial markers in leiomyosarcoma, occasionally with diffuse and strong immunopositivity, should be recognized as a potentially serious diagnostic pitfall in the differential diagnosis of other malignant spindle cell neoplasms.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.