Korean J Cytopathol.  2001 Dec;12(2):81-88.

Immunocytochemical Expression of E-cadherin in Cell Blocks of Serous Effusions

• Kim BH
• Kwon OJ

Abstract

The differentiation between reactive mesothelial and carcinoma cells in serous effusion cytology can be a diagnostic challenge based on morphology alone. The expression of some cell adhesion molecules may be helpful in the differential diagnosis. This study evaluated the usefulness of E-cadherin immunocytochemistry for discrimination of carcinoma cells from reactive mesothelial cells. Alcohol fixed, paraffin embedded cell blocks taken from 42 reactive and 102 malignant serous effusions with histologically confirmed diagnoses were immunostained with monoclonal antibody to E-cadherin by LSAB method. E-cadherin expression was identified in only 2 benign reactive serous effusions(5%) whereas 91 malignant serous effusions(89%) expressed E-cadherin. The differences in immunostaining for E-cadherin between reactive and malignant serous effusions were statistically significant(p<0.001). The sensitivity and specificity of the E-cadherin immunostaining for carcinoma cells were 89% and 95%, respectively. In conclusion, E-cadherin is a useful diagnostic adjunct for differentiation between reactive mesothelial and carcinoma cells in serous effusions.

Keyword

Cytology; Effusion; Malignant; E-cadherin; Immunocytochemistry

MeSH Terms

Cadherins*
Cell Adhesion Molecules
Diagnosis
Diagnosis, Differential
Discrimination (Psychology)
Immunohistochemistry
Paraffin
Sensitivity and Specificity
Cadherins
Cell Adhesion Molecules
Paraffin