Title: Olfactory neuroblastoma:clinicopathologic features and differential diagnosis from small cell carcinoma
Abstract: Purpose To identify reliable morphological parameters for differential diagnosis and prognosis evaluation of olfactory neuroblastoma (ONB). Methods A total number of 22 cases of ONB samples were retrieved and examined by histopathological and immunohistochemical approaches, with small cell carcinoma (SCC) of the same number included as a control group. Results Twenty-two of ONBs were reviewed histologically, with 1, 11, 8 and 2 cases graded as G1, G2, G3 and G4 lesions, respectively. Neuroendocrine markers and vimentin were positive for some of them. Immunoreactivities for cytokeratins (CKs) 8 and 18, in the dot-like paranuclear patterns, were demonstrated in the lesions, with their frequencies being 41% and 46%, respectively, while CK18 was detected in 96% of the SCC lesions examined, with the product localized in cytoplasm diffusely. Reactivity for epithelial membrane antigen (EMA) was demonstrated in ONB and SCC lesions, with their frequencies being 41% and 91%, respectively. Neurofilament (NF) protein was detected in 64% of the ONBs and none of the SCC lesions examined. Among the 12 ONB cases with follow-up data, 8 were alive without the disease and 4 with tumor recurrence. Of the recurrent cases, 3 (75%) showed CK expression. Conclusions NF is a useful marker of ONB distinctive from SCC. The characteristic distribution and subcellular localization patterns of CK immunoreactivity in ONB and SCC lesions are helpful in their differential diagnosis, though neither CK nor EMA is a reliable marker for excluding ONB. CK expression in ONB may indicate an unfavorable prognosis.
Publication Year: 2008
Publication Date: 2008-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
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