Immunocytochemical diagnosis of undifferentiated brain tumours using monoclonal antibodies

Brain tumors account for 3.36% of total body malignancy. Proper diagnosis is essential for management of the cases. Diagnosis depends on good tumor differentiation. However, the undifferentiated category form a good portion. The aim of the present study is to differentiate brain tumors whether primary or metastatic using a panel of immunologic markers. The material constituted 36 cases of undifferentiated tumors. Immunocytochemical diagnosis was done by applying ABC technique in formalin fixed paraffin embedded tissues. The primary monoclonal antibodies included glial fibrillary acid protein [GFAP], vimentin, Keratin, Common Leucocytic Antigen [LAC], Desmin and Neuron specific enolase [NSE]. Immunophenotyping reclassified tumors as follows; 27 cases proved to be primary brain tumors including 11 cases astrocytomas, 5 cases glioblastoma multiforme, 5 cases ependymoma, 3 cases medulloblastoma, 2 cases mixed glioma, 1 case oligodendroglioma. 4 cases were metastatic carcinoma, 2 cases were lymphoma, 2 cases were soft tissue sarcoma while one case remained unclassified. It is concluded that use of GFAP, Vimentin and NSE serves as a good panel for the diagnosis of primary CNS tumors, however, their differential diagnosis should be considered with histologic criteria as there is overlap of histogenesis and hence the expression of immunologic markers. Moreover additional use of keratin and LCA with the mentioned panel were adjuvant to exclude metastatic carcinoma and lymphoma

Comparison of accuracy of drill biopsy and frozen section in the diagnosis of breast lesions

Two methods of preoperative diagnosis of breast masses; namely, drill biopsy and frozen section were evaluated and compared at the National Cancer Institute during 1986. Fifty-three patients were subjected to drill biopsy in the outpatient clinic; whereas, 178 consecutive patients were subjected to frozen section examination with or without subsequent radical mastectomy. The overall accuracy [sensitivity] of drill biopsy was 94.3% with an accuracy of 93.4% in malignant tumors and 100% in benign tumors. Two false negative results were obtained, but no false positive results were encountered. As regard frozen sections, the overall accuracy was 97.7%. The diagnosis accuracy was 97.4% in malignant tumors and 100% in benign tumors. No false +ve results were encountered