Affiliations: Institute of Cytopathology, Heinrich Heine University, Moorenstr. 5, D‐40225 Düsseldorf, Germany | Institute of Pathology, Heinrich Heine University, Moorenstr. 5, D‐40225 Düsseldorf, Germany | Division of Cytopathology, Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Basel, Schönbeinstr. 40, CH‐4003 Basel, Switzerland
Note: [] Correspondence to: Dr Helma Motherby, Tel.: +49 211 8118346; Fax: +49 211 8118402.
Note: [] Dr Motherby is Assistant Medical Director, Institute of Cytopathology; Mrs Kube is Biological Technical Assistant, Institute of Cytopathology; Mr Friedrichs is Medical Student, Institute of Cytopathology; Dr Nadjari is Resident, formerly Institute of Cytopathology, now Institute of Pathology, Charite, Humboldt University of Berlin; Mrs Knops is Cytotechnician, Institute of Cytopathology; Dr Donner is Pathologist, Institute of Pathology; Mrs Baschiera is Cytotechnician, Division of Cytopathology, Institute of Pathology, University Hospital of Basel, Switzerland; Dr Dalquen is Prof. of Pathology and Head of the Division of Cytopathology, Institute of Pathology, University Hospital of Basel, Switzerland; Dr Böcking is Professor of Pathology and Head of the Institute of Cytopathology.
Abstract: To determine the prevalence of immunocytochemical positivities for a panel of antibodies in benign and malignant cells in effusions with known follow‐up in order to use these as diagnostic markers. Besides their ability to identify malignant epithelial cells their contribution to the differential diagnosis between carcinomatoses and mesotheliomas was investigated. 101 tumour cell positive and 53 negative effusions were stained with 12 different antibodies. Results were scored semiquantitatively per cell type. Furthermore, DNA‐image cytometry was performed. While prevalence of Ber‐EP4 positivity was 95.4% in metastatic carcinoma cells, it was 0% in those from mesotheliomas. No cell type reacted with this marker in benign effusions (0%). Ber‐EP4 correctly differentiated between metastatic carcinoma and mesothelioma in 98.0%. Prevalence of DNA‐aneuploidy was 95.4% in metastatic carcinomas, 57.1% in mesotheliomas and 0% in reactive effusions. Combining immunocytochemistry (Ber‐EP4 positivity) and DNA‐image cytometry (aneuploidy) results in a 100% detection of metastatic carcinomatoses and 57.1% of mesotheliomas. Both markers furthermore allowed a correct differentiation of these entities in 98%.
