| dc.description | Background: The pathological differential diagnosis between primary and metastatic ovarian malignant tumors is usually difficult, specially for tumors originating in the gastrointestinal system or breast. Aim: To define an immunohistochemical flow chart to discriminate these tumor types. Material and methods: We performed a immunostaining analysis using a panel of six antibodies (CK 7, CA 125, CEA, CK20, BRST-2 and CA 15-3) in 3 tumor groups: 11 ovarian, 14 breast and 12 colonic primary tumors and in a study group of 38 ovarian tumors whose primary origin was unknown. Results: We defined an ovarian immunohistochemical pattern (CEA-/CK20-, 45% in ovarian tumors, 0% in breast or colonic tumors, p <0.001); an ovary/breast pattern (CEA+/CK20-, 0% in colonic tumors, p <0.001): a breast pattern (CEA+/CK20-/BKST-2+, 64% in breast tumors and 0% in colonic and ovarian tumors, p <0.001) and a colonic pattern (CEA+/ CK20+/CK7-, 67% in colonic tumors and 0% in breast and ovarian tumors, p <0.001). Conclusions: Employing a simple panel of antibodies, characteristic immunohistochemical patterns were defined for ovarian, breast and colonic tumors. These patterns allowed the identification of the origin of most tumors of the study group (Rev Méd Chile 2002; 130: 1232-40) | |
