Markers Used for the Differential Diagnosis of Major Tumor Categories

Question 1

What markers are used in the differential diagnosis of adrenal tumors?

Answer 1

cortex: Melan-A, inhibin-alpha, calretinin
medulla: PGP 9.5, chromogranins, synaptophysin

Question 2

What markers are used in the differential diagnosis of endocrine tumors (generic)?

Answer 2

chromogranin A, synaptophysin, PGP 9.5, neuron specific enolase, S100

Question 3

What markers are used in the differential diagnosis of epithelial versus mesenchymal?

Answer 3

cytokeratins (epi), vimentin (mes), E-cadherin (epi), p63 (basal cells, myoepithelium)

Question 4

What markers are used in the differential diagnosis of leukocytic tumors?

Answer 4

CD45 (panleukocytic), CD18 (emphasis on histocytic), CD11d (dendritic cells), E-cadherin (Langerhan’s cells), lysozyme (histiocytes), myeloid histiocytic marker (histiocytes, myeloid cells)

Question 5

What markers are used in the differential diagnosis of liver tumors?

Answer 5

hep par 1 (hepatocytes), cytokeratin 7 (bile duct epithelium)

Question 6

What markers are used in the differential diagnosis of lymphoid tumors?

Answer 6

CD3 (T-cell), CD79a and CD20 (B-cell), CD45 and CD18 (panleukocytic), MUM1 (plasma cells)

Question 7

What markers are used in the differential diagnosis of mast cell tumors?

Answer 7

CD117, tryptase, OCT3/4

Question 8

What markers are used in the differential diagnosis of melanocytic tumors?

Answer 8

melan A, S100, NSE

Question 9

What markers are used in the differential diagnosis for muscle differentiation?

Answer 9

actin muscle (all muscle), smooth m. actin (smooth m.), myoglobin (sk. m), actin sarcomeric (striated m.), desmin (all muscle), calponin (sm. m, myofibroblast, myoepi)

Question 10

What markers are used in the differential diagnosis of neurogenic tumors?

Answer 10

S100 (neurons, glial cells), neurofilament (neurons), GFAP (glial cells), glut 1, nerve growth factor receptor (perineural cells)

Question 11

What markers are used in the differential diagnosis of pancreatic tumors?

Answer 11

insulin, glucagon, somatostatin, synaptophysin, PGP 9.5, chromogranin A

Question 12

What markers are used in the differential diagnosis of squamous versus adenocarcinoma?

Answer 12

squamous cell carcinoma (CK5, p63); adenocarcinoma (CK7)

Question 13

What markers are used in the differential diagnosis of testis versus ovary?

Answer 13

sex cord-stromal tumors (inhibin-alpha, NSE); germ-cell tumors (calretinin, KIT, PGP 9.5)

Question 14

What markers are used in the differential diagnosis of thyroid tumors?

Answer 14

thyroglobulin (follicular cells), calcitonin (medulla, C-cells), TTF1 (follicles & medulla)

Question 15

What markers are used in the differential diagnosis of urinary tumors?

Answer 15

uroplakin III, cytokeratin 7, COX-2, COX1

Question 16

What markers are used in the differential diagnosis of vascular tumors?

Answer 16

Factor VIII-related antigen, CD31