The contribution of immunohistochemistry in the diagnosis of pediatric neoplastic lesions in the University of Puerto Rico, School of Medicine.

Immunohistochemistry has revolutionized the field of diagnostic pathology in the past fifteen years. Since then, it has been increasingly used as an adjunct to morphological diagnosis. The purpose of this retrospective analysis is to examine the value of this technique in the diagnosis of pediatric neoplasias in our laboratory. Forty eight pediatric cases, collected from January 1998 until May 1999, were reviewed, and classified in one of four categories: confirmed the morphological diagnosis, provided the definite diagnosis from a list of probable diagnoses, contributed by excluding other entities, and non-contributory. Immunohistochemistry confirmed the morphological diagnosis in 29 cases (60.4%), provided the definite diagnosis from a list of probable diagnoses in 13 cases (27.1%), was contributory by exclusion of other entities in 2 cases (4.2%), and was non-contributory in 4 cases (8.3%). In this preliminary study, we conclude that immunohistochemistry is being used in our laboratory mostly as a confirmatory tool for the definitive diagnosis of the lesions and once more exalts the utility of this technology in the field of diagnostic pathology.