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cytokeratin 5/6
Wednesday 26 September 2012
Pathology
All squamous carcinomas of the lung express cytokeratin 5/6.
Cytokeratin 5/6 reactivity was observed in all 40 mesotheliomas, but there was none in any of the 30 pulmonary adenocarcinomas.
The cytokeratin 5/6 immunostaining is useful in separating epithelial pleural mesotheliomas from pulmonary adenocarcinomas but also can assist in distinguishing epithelial mesotheliomas from nonpulmonary adenocarcinomas metastatic to the pleura.
Reference
Value of cytokeratin 5/6 immunostaining in distinguishing epithelial mesothelioma of the pleura from lung adenocarcinoma. Ordóñez NG. Am J Surg Pathol. 1998 Oct;22(10):1215-21. PMID: 9777983
