Immunohistochemical analysis of undifferentiated and poorly-differentiated head and neck malignancies at a tertiary hospital in Nigeria

Histological examination plays a central role in diagnosis, classification, grading and staging of malignancy. Difficulties arise from the subjective nature of histological analysis that are influenced by the practitioner's experience, bias and training. With poorly-differentiated neoplasms, inter- and intra-observer variability can be high [1]. Immunohistochemistry has greatly assisted in the identification of tumors that cannot be accurately identified using routine histopathological procedures [2]. In one study of more than 100 anaplastic tumors, the hematoxylin-eosin diagnosis of carcinoma or lymphoma was revised in approximately 50% of cases following immunohistochemical analysis [3].

In some undifferentiated tumors, subtle features of epithelial versus mesenchymal differentiation can often be appreciated, which assist the immunohistochemical approach to these tumors. Some tumors, however, may not fit into either of these two categories because of their overlapping histological features [4]. Nevertheless, making the correct histopathological diagnosis is essential in deciding the appropriate therapy [5, 6].

The immunohistochemical evaluation of undifferentiated tumors should first aim at a broad lineage determination of the neoplasia. Based on the result of the screening panel, a more detailed or specific panel should then be applied to further sub classify the tumor or to confirm a particular diagnosis [4]. The thrust of this study is to evaluate the accuracy of histopathological diagnosis in the broad lineage determination of undifferentiated/poorly-differentiated neoplasms of the head and neck.

1192 head and neck malignancies (oral and nasal cavities, paranasal sinuses, oropharynx, nasopharynx, hypopharynx, larynx, trachea, ear and salivary glands) were retrieved from the archives of the Pathology and Oral Pathology departments of the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria between 1990 and 2008. 142 poorly-differentiated and undifferentiated neoplasms including anaplastic (undifferentiated) or poorly-differentiated carcinomas, anaplastic large cell lymphomas, pleomorphic sarcomas, malignant fibrous histiocytoma, esthesioneuroblastoma and spindle cell sarcomas were selected. Cases where the original paraffin block could not be obtained were excluded from analysis. Only 86 of the 142 undifferentiated and poorly-differentiated head and neck malignancies diagnosed during the study period satisfied the inclusion criteria.

Freshly prepared sections from each case were stained with hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) and a panel of antibodies to leukocyte common antigen (CD45), cytokeratin AE1/AE3, vimentin, desmin, myogenin and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) using the specifications of the manufacturer (Dako Cytomation, USA).

The sections for immunohistochemistry were de-paraffinized, hydrated and then rinsed in Phosphate Buffered Solution (PBS). They were immersed in heat induced epitope retrieval citrate buffer diluted to 1:10 with distilled water and incubated at 90°C for 1 hour. They were then placed in fresh citrate, cooled in water for 20 minutes and then rinsed in PBS. Positive controls (skin for cytokeratin AE1 or AE3, tonsils for CD45; neural tissue for Neuron-specific enolase; skeletal muscle for Myogenin and Vimentin; and smooth muscle for desmin) and negative controls were employed for each antibody. 3% hydrogen peroxide was added to each section for 10 minutes and the sections were rinsed in 0.1% PBS. The specimens were incubated for an hour with 40-130 μl of appropriately diluted Dako mouse primary antibody, followed by incubation with undiluted labeled polymer Horse Radish Peroxidase conjugated antimouse secondary antibody for 30 minutes. One ml of Diaminobenzidene solution was added to cover the specimen, followed by incubation in a humidity chamber for 15 minutes. The sections were then immersed in aqueous hematoxylin and rinsed in distilled water. The tissue was then dehydrated and subsequently rinsed with xylene. DPX (Distyrene, Plasticizer and Xylene) mounting fluid was then applied and a cover slip placed.

All the seven antibodies used in the panel for one specimen were reviewed sequentially and the pattern and intensity of staining was observed and scored as: negative (0), weakly positive (+1), moderately positive (+2) and strongly positive (+3) [7]. The slides were reviewed without reference to initial histology diagnosis to eliminate bias. The final immunohistochemical findings were then correlated with the H&E stained slides in order to arrive at a final diagnosis.

The data was analyzed using version 16 of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS16). Qualitative data were compared using chi-square statistics. Quantitative data were summarized using mean, standard deviation and confidence interval and compared using student t- and/or one-way analysis of variance test. The level of significance was set at p < 0.05. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated using immunohistochemistry as the gold standard to which the original H&E diagnosis was compared. The positive predictive value, negative predictive value, accuracy and degree of agreement were also determined. For degree of agreement, Kappa value >0.75 = excellent agreement, 0.4-0.75 = fair to good agreement and <0.4 = moderate to poor agreement [8].

The cases comprised 62 (72.1%) males and 24 (27.9%) females. The mean age was 38.9 (SD ± 15.9) with peak occurrence between 25-44 years. The nasopharynx (47.7%), nose (12.8%) and maxillofacial bones (12.8%) were the most common locations.

The original hematoxylin-eosin diagnoses are shown in figure 1. These diagnoses were confirmed by immunohistochemistry in 34 (54.8%) of the 62 carcinomas, 12 (70.6%) of the 17 sarcomas, four (80%) of the 5 lymphomas and one of the 2 neuroendocrine malignancies (Table 1).

Table 2 summarizes the clinical profile of the 33 cases in which there was discordance between the original H&E diagnosis and final diagnosis. Some of these discordant diagnoses are also depicted in figures 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7. Sarcomas, neuroendocrine carcinomas and lymphomas were most often misdiagnosed as carcinomas. There was no obvious correlation between age, gender or site distribution, as compared to diagnosis.

ORIGINAL HISTOLOGICAL DIAGNOSIS	FINAL DIAGNOSIS AFTER IMMUNOHISTOCHEMISTRY	AGE GROUP (years)	GENDER	TOPOGRAPHY
Carcinoma	Neuroendocrine carcinoma	25-44	Male	Lymph node
Carcinoma	Neuroendocrine carcinoma	45-64	Female	Nose
Carcinoma	Neuroendocrine carcinoma	45-64	Male	Nasopharynx
Carcinoma	Neuroendocrine carcinoma	25-44	Female	Nose
Carcinoma	Neuroendocrine carcinoma	15-24	Male	Palate
Carcinoma	Neuroendocrine carcinoma	≥65	Male	Nasopharynx
Carcinoma	Sarcoma	25-44	Male	Face/scalp
Carcinoma	Sarcoma	15-24	Male	Nasopharynx
Carcinoma	Sarcoma	45-64	Male	Lymph node
Carcinoma	Sarcoma	25-44	Male	Nasopharynx
Carcinoma	Sarcoma	25-44	Male	Nose
Carcinoma	Sarcoma	15-24	Male	Nose
Carcinoma	Sarcoma	45-64	Male	Nasopharynx
Carcinoma	Sarcoma	45-64	Female	Maxillofacial bone
Carcinoma	Lymphoma	≥65	Male	Nasopharynx
Carcinoma	Lymphoma	45-64	Male	Nasopharynx
Carcinoma	Lymphoma	25-44	Male	Oropharynx
Carcinoma	Lymphoma	----	Male	Oropharynx
Carcinoma	Lymphoma	15-24	Male	Maxillofacial bone
Carcinoma	Lymphoma	45-64	Male	Nose
Carcinoma	Lymphoma	25-44	Female	Nasopharynx
Carcinoma	Lymphoma	45-64	Female	Nasopharynx
Carcinoma	Carcinosarcoma	45-64	Male	Nasopharynx
Sarcoma	Carcinoma	45-64	Female	Face/scalp
Sarcoma	Lymphoma	15-24	Male	Maxillofacial bone
Sarcoma	Lymphoma	25-44	Male	Maxillofacial bone
Lymphoma	Sarcoma	25-44	Male	Nose
Neuroendocrine carcinoma	Sarcoma	45-64	Male	Nasopharynx

In the present study, the original histological diagnosis of 62 lesions was carcinoma, but only 34 (54.8%) were confirmed by immunohistochemistry. This proportion is higher than the 27.9% confirmation rate of carcinomas in a study by Bianchini et al in Italy [9]. Lesions that were confused with carcinomas included 8 (12.9%) sarcomas, 8 (12.9%) lymphomas, 6 (9.7%) neuroendocrine tumors and 1 carcinosarcoma. Gatter [10] also reported in a study that 29 cases (67.4%) from 43 cases initially thought to be anaplastic carcinomas were revised as lymphomas by immunohistochemistry. This demonstrates the value of immunohistochemistry in distinguishing between anaplastic carcinomas and malignant lymphomas of the head and neck, as the latter is much more amenable to treatment than the former. This study thus corroborates other studies which suggest that immunohistochemical technique has a role in the definition of undifferentiated tumors.

Eighty percent of lymphomas diagnosed by histology in this study were confirmed by immunohistochemistry and this is comparable to the 66% reported confirmation of lymphomas in another study [3].

After the immunohistochemical analysis, almost 10% of the lesions thought to be undifferentiated carcinomas were revised to neuroendocrine carcinomas. More than 60% of these revised lesions were found either in the nose or nasopharynx and occurred more commonly in males (66.7%). Histopathological differentiation of undifferentiated carcinoma from neuroendocrine carcinoma is challenging and is significantly aided by immunohistochemistry [11].

The present study had inconclusive diagnosis by immunohistochemistry in 8.1% of cases, Bianchini et al reported 18.6% and Gatter reported 6.7% inconclusive results. This could be due to technique differences, different antigen retrieval methods or the absence of the antigen suspected. Use of inappropriate antibodies may also be responsible for absence of immunoreactivity. In addition, some poorly-differentiated tumors might require other techniques such as electron microscopy and molecular studies before an accurate diagnosis can be achieved [12, 13].

In this study, histology, to a reasonable extent is able to determine if a sarcoma or lymphoma is present or if they are absent. However it cannot, with a good degree of certainty, determine if a carcinoma or a neuroendocrine tumor is present, although it can exclude them fairly accurately. The high number of carcinomas seen in this study therefore suggests an over-diagnosis of carcinomas by histology. For correct management to be instituted for any malignant lesion it must be diagnosed accurately. In this study the diagnostic accuracy of histology for carcinomas is 69.6%. This means that almost 70% of the time, histology will diagnose carcinomas accurately. The diagnostic accuracy for sarcomas, lymphomas and neuroendocrine tumors is 83.5%, 86% and 91.1% respectively. Therefore further ancillary tests will be needed to resolve diagnostic doubts.

The level of agreement in this study between morphological classification by histology and immunohistochemical assessment was fair for sarcomas (kappa = 0.54), moderate for carcinomas and lymphomas (kappa = 0.42), and poor for neuroendocrine tumors (kappa = 0.18). However, a larger sample of neuroendocrine tumors will be required before any affirmative deductions can be made about them.

Undifferentiated carcinomas were the most prevalent group in this study constituting 64% of the undifferentiated malignancies and 7.6% of all head and neck malignancies. A study by Gatter et al [10] in the United Kingdom recorded poorly-differentiated lymphomas (44.2%) as the most prevalent undifferentiated tumors. Bianchini et al [9] however reported in their study that the most prevalent cell pattern for poorly-differentiated tumors was the round cell pattern (51%). They only grouped these lesions into their histogenetic lineage after immunohistochemistry and not before [9]. In practice however a protocol should be developed, guiding the choice of panel of antibodies based on cellular morphology to reduce 'wastage' of antibodies.

In this study, test of sensitivity and specificity show that histology is able to determine the presence or absence of a sarcoma or lymphoma to a good extent but confirmation of a carcinoma or neuroendocrine lesion is poor, although it is able to exclude them fairly accurately. This study has also shown that the use of antibodies in immunohistochemistry greatly assist in the identification of tumors which cannot be accurately identified using routine histopathological procedures.

More detailed studies for specific pathological conditions need to be carried out in order to maximize immunohistochemistry as an ancillary diagnostic tool and expand its versatility in Nigeria and the West African sub-region.

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.