UTILITY OF IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL MARKERS IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF COMMON SOFT TISSUE SARCOMAS IN ADULTS: A BRIEF REVIEW

Mohammad Shahid Iqbal*, Mohammed Basalamah, Emad Mohammed Alghamdi, Marwan Ahmed Hakami, Omar Abdulaziz Ghafoori, Abdulaziz Ali Sagga, Aisha Tabassum and Hussain AlMasmoum

ABSTRACT

Soft tissue sarcomas are a complex group of neoplasms arising from mesenchymal tissues. They present great difficulties for the practicing surgical pathologist due to their variety and several lines of differentiation. Their mimics include many pseudosarcomatous benign lesions and non-mesenchymal malignant lesions. The differential diagnostic considerations are many and special studies like immunohistochemistry are usually necessary to reach a definite conclusion. Immunohistochemistry is used as a routine diagnostic tool for soft tissue tumors. An extensive array of antibodies are available now to facilitate the characterization of soft tissue tumors. Because of its relatively low cost, simple technique and the availability of a large number of increasingly sensitive and /or specific antibodies, it has become the main diagnostic tool. Immunohistochemistry should be used as complement to morphological analysis. Use of single immunostain can lead to misdiagnosis and hence it is advised to use a panel of antibodies.

Keywords: Sarcoma, Immunohistochemistry, Antibodies, Immunostain.