What is the Role of Immunohistochemistry in Diagnosing Neoplastic Lesions?
Immunohistochemistry (IHC) is a powerful technique used to detect specific antigens in tissues using antibodies. It plays a crucial role in diagnosing neoplastic lesions by:
- Identifying Cell Types: Differentiating between various types of neoplasms. - Determining Origin: Identifying the tissue of origin in metastatic tumors. - Prognostic Markers: Assessing the expression of markers that predict disease outcome.
Commonly used markers in IHC include:
- Cytokeratins: For epithelial cells. - Vimentin: For mesenchymal cells. - CD markers: For hematopoietic cells.
