Do we need support in
immunohistochemistry?
Jan Klos MD
Department of Pathology Stavanger University Hospital
Norway
Amount of information to acquire, apply and report increases and it becomes difficult to hold in one`s mind simultaneously.
Education about rational, effective use and interpretation of IHC results becomes more important.
Easy access to relevant, quality controlled information is essential.
A number of antibodies, companion and complementary diagnostic tests increases.
What is that databases can offer?
Instant access to cumulated knowledge on antibodies and their reactivity with different tumors.
• Individual antibodies with reported incidence of reactivity in various tumors (3/5).
• Individual tumors with expression pattern of different markers (3/5).
• Sorting and listing tumors according to the rate of positivity or name of the marker (2/5).
• Compare the immunoprofile of one tumor against any other tumor and show statistically significant differences (2/5).
• Costs for individual and group membership (2/5)
• Some statistics provided (3/5).
• Errors in registration and missing registrations present.
Content of the database should never replace good medical judgment in any given case (5/5)
• Description of individual markers (3/5 varying quality).
• Recommendation of well performing Ab clones (1/5).
• Photographic documentation of immunostaining (0-1/5).
• Pitfalls and aberrant staining (0/5).
• QA/QC is not certain (0?/5).
Databases in immunohistochemistry
Do they help with optimal application of immunohistochemistry?
• http://www.e-immunohistochemistry.info/ - free
• https://www.nordiqc.org/ - free
• https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/ - free
• https://app.immunoquery.com/ - $ $
• https://www.pathpedia.com/Education/Immuno/Immunopedia.aspx# - $ $
• Books and articles D.Dabbs “Diagnostic Immunohistochemistry”, PubMed, … $
• Internal consultations Free access!
Which database to use?
Who? Registrar(s) or consultant(s)?
When? Before or after ordering of immunostains?
What to do?
1. Start where I am 2. Use what I have 3. Do what I can
Create own IHC database with descriptions of the antibodies, their diagnostic application, highlight possible pitfalls and supply other diagnostic relevant information - all supported by adequate
photographic documentation.
Diagnosis: Intranodal Palisaded Myofibroblastoma (IPM)
Data bases in immunohistochemistry offering an easy access to relevant diagnostic information are helpful as decision support in pathology. Their value will increase with the time especially when they are user friendly, quality controlled and may be even certified, however …
“The diagnostic power of any test in pathology is never
greater than the wisdom of the pathologist interpreting it!”
from Laws of immunohistochemistry by A. Gown
Please, kindly visit www.antibodylexicon.com under construction.
I will greatly appreciate your feedback as well as interest to contribute to this database e-mail: [email protected]
