Polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry frequently detect occult melanoma cells in regional lymph nodes of melanoma patients

摘要

Conclusions-Immunohistochemistry + RT-PCR is more sensitive than routine Histology in detecting occult melanoma Cells in lymph nodes. The nested PCR for Tyrosinase should be used in futures studies Investigating the prognostic significance Of such lymph node micrometastases. Aims-To evaluate immunohistochemis- Try and reverse transcriptase polymerase Chain reaction (RT-PCR) for mulanoma Associated antigens (MAA) in detecting Occult melanoma cells in lymph nodes Which were missed on routine pathology. Methods-Occult melanoma cells were sought in 436 lymph nodes from 32 patients with cutaneous melanoma of the lower extremities by immunohistochem- istry using the melanoma specific anti- body HMB-45.