PNL2 melanocytic marker in immunohistochemical evaluation of primary mucosal melanoma of the head and neck. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • BACKGROUND: Histologic diagnosis of mucosal melanoma of the head and neck is difficult, requiring immunohistochemical stains which are less reliable than in cutaneous lesions. PNL-2 is a novel marker that has not been examined in mucosal melanoma. METHODS: Nine formalin-fixed tissue sections of mucosal melanoma were stained with PNL-2, human melanoma black (HMB)-45, Melan-A, S-100, and microphthalmia transcription factor (MITF). RESULTS: Disease in all 9 patients arose from the sinonasal mucosa. Rates of diffuse positive staining with the 4 stains were PNL-2 (77.8%), HMB-45 (77.8%), Melan-A (50%), S-100 (87.5%), and MITF (40%). In 3 patients, PNL2 staining was superior to Melan-A or MITF. CONCLUSION: We report the first characterization of PNL-2 staining in head and neck mucosal melanoma. PNL-2 demonstrates high sensitivity for mucosal melanoma, likely superior to Melan-A and MITF, and comparable to HMB-45, with specificity superior to S-100. We advocate inclusion of PNL2 as an important adjunctive marker in the evaluation of these lesions.

publication date

  • June 1, 2008

Research

keywords

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Neoplasm
  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Melanoma
  • Nose Neoplasms

Identity

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 46249096366

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1002/hed.20785

PubMed ID

  • 18228523

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 30

issue

  • 6