Korean J Pathol.  2011 Feb;45(1):30-35.

Use of Calretinin, CD56, and CD34 for Differential Diagnosis of Schwannoma and Neurofibroma

• Park JY
• Park H
• Park NJ
• Park JS
• Sung HJ
• Lee SS

Abstract

BACKGROUND
It is important to differentiate between schwannomas and neurofibromas for the cases in which the histopathologic features overlap. Depending on the tumor type, surgeons can decide on a treatment method and whether to preserve or sacrifice the nerve; the possibility of malignant transformation in the case of neurofibromas also needs to be considered.
METHODS
We studied 101 cases of schwannoma and 103 cases of neurofibroma. All the hematoxylin and eosin slides for these cases were reviewed, and tissue microarrays were prepared from the representative areas. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed using antibodies for S-100 protein, calretinin, CD56 and CD34.
RESULTS
All the tumors except 3 neurofibromas were positive for the S-100 protein. Calretinin was found in 26.7% of the schwannomas (27/101), but it was not found in any of the neurofibromas. CD56 was positive in 77.2% of the schwannomas (78/101) and in 9.8% of the neurofibromas (10/102). CD34 was positive in 42.5% of the schwannomas (43/101) and in 80.2% of the neurofibromas (81/101). Statistically, calretinin was significantly specific for schwannomas (p<0.001) and CD56 was also sensitive for these tumors (p<0.001). On the other hand, a CD34 expression seemed highly sensitive (p<0.001) for neurofibromas.
CONCLUSIONS
We concluded that combined immunohistochemical analysis for calretinin, CD56, and CD34 may be very useful for differentiating schwannomas from neurofibromas.

Keyword

Schwannoma; Neurofibroma; Immunohistochemistry; Diagnosis, differential

MeSH Terms

Antibodies
Calcium-Binding Protein, Vitamin D-Dependent
Diagnosis, Differential
Eosine Yellowish-(YS)
Hand
Hematoxylin
Immunohistochemistry
Neurilemmoma
Neurofibroma
S100 Proteins
Antibodies
Calcium-Binding Protein, Vitamin D-Dependent
Eosine Yellowish-(YS)
Hematoxylin
S100 Proteins