Abstract
The interpretation of the immunocytochemical reactions used in diagnostic cytopathology must be done correctly, because technical artifacts, false-positive or false-negative results, and interpretative errors can lead to incorrect diagnoses. The main sources of technical artifacts lie in the pre-analytic phase (collection of the cytologic sample, preparation of the specimens, staining) and only in part to poor performance of immunocytochemical reactions. Some pitfalls are due to incorrect interpretation of immunostaining, caused by rapid and superficial evaluation of the stain or poor interpretive knowledge.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Suggesting Reading
Bauer DR, et al. A new paradigm for tissue diagnostics: tools and techniques to standardize tissue collection, transport, and fixation. Curr Pathobiol Rep. 2018;6:135.
Bussolati G, Leonardo E. Technical pitfalls potentially affecting diagnoses in immunohistochemistry. J Clin Pathol. 2008;61:1184.
Chavali P, et al. Utility of immunochemistry in cytology. J Cytol. 2016;33:71.
Fitzgibbons PL, et al. Principles of analytic validation of immunohistochemical assays. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2014;138:1432.
Fowler LJ, Lachar WA. Application of immunohistochemistry to cytology. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2008;132:373.
Gown AM. Diagnostic immunohistochemistry: what can go wrong and how to prevent it? Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2016;140:893.
Kim S-W, et al. Immunohistochemistry for pathologists: protocols, pitfalls, and tips. J Pathol Transl Med. 2016;50:411.
Leonardo E, et al. Cell membrane reactivity of MIB-1 antibody to Ki67 in human tumors: fact or artifact? Appl Immunohistochem Mol Morphol. 2007;15:220.
Leong AS-Y. Pitfalls in diagnostic immunohistology. Adv Anat Pathol. 2004;11:86.
Libard S, et al. Characteristics of the tissue section that influence the staining outcome in immunohistochemistry. Histochem Cell Biol. 2019;151:91.
Lin F, Chen Z. Standardization of diagnostic immunohistochemistry. Literature review and Geisinger experience. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2014;138:1564.
Miller RT. Avoiding pitfalls in diagnostic immunohistochemistry–important technical aspects that every pathologist should know. Sem Diagn Pathol. 2019;36:312.
Paavilainen L, et al. The impact of tissue fixatives on morphology and antibody-based protein profiling in tissues and cells. J Histochem Cytochem. 2010;58:237.
True LD. Quality control in molecular immunohistochemistry. Histochem Cell Biol. 2008;130:473.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2020 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Leonardo, E., Bardales, R.H. (2020). Pitfalls in Immunocytochemistry. In: Practical Immunocytochemistry in Diagnostic Cytology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-46656-5_6
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-46656-5_6
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-46655-8
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-46656-5
eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)