Well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors in skin: Terminology and diagnostic utility of cytokeratin 5/6 and p63
- PMID: 28417484
- DOI: 10.1111/cup.12952
Well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors in skin: Terminology and diagnostic utility of cytokeratin 5/6 and p63
Abstract
Background: Well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors (WDNETs) in skin include metastases from visceral primary sites and very uncommonly, primary cutaneous carcinoid tumors. Cutaneous WDNET may present a diagnostic challenge and in particular can be mistaken for a benign skin adnexal tumor. In contrast to cutaneous adnexal tumors, metastatic adenocarcinomas to the skin are cytokeratin 5/6 (CK5/6) and p63 negative in the majority of cases. It is unclear if failure to stain with CK5/6 and p63 would be helpful in differentiating WDNETs from cutaneous adnexal neoplasms.
Methods: We reviewed 10 cases of cutaneous WDNETs (8 cases of metastatic disease and 2 presumed primary carcinoid tumors of the skin) and performed immunohistochemical stains for CK5/6 and p63 on all cases.
Results: All 10 cases were negative with both CK5/6 and p63.
Conclusion: Negative staining for CK5/6 and p63 can be helpful to distinguish WDNETs from cutaneous adnexal neoplasms. It is important to consider WDNETs in the differential diagnosis of cutaneous adnexal neoplasms as low-grade tumors may be the first sign of aggressive metastatic disease.
Keywords: CK5/6; cutaneous carcinoid; p63; well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumor.
© 2017 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Similar articles
-
Evaluation of napsin A, TTF-1, p63, p40, and CK5/6 immunohistochemical stains in pulmonary neuroendocrine tumors.Am J Clin Pathol. 2014 Sep;142(3):320-4. doi: 10.1309/AJCPGA0IUA8BHQEZ. Am J Clin Pathol. 2014. PMID: 25125621
-
[Expression of TTF-1, NapsinA, P63, CK5/6 in Lung Cancer and Its Diagnostic Values for Histological Classification].Sichuan Da Xue Xue Bao Yi Xue Ban. 2017 May;48(3):336-341. Sichuan Da Xue Xue Bao Yi Xue Ban. 2017. PMID: 28616902 Chinese.
-
p40 exhibits better specificity than p63 in distinguishing primary skin adnexal carcinomas from cutaneous metastases.Hum Pathol. 2014 May;45(5):1078-83. doi: 10.1016/j.humpath.2014.01.006. Epub 2014 Jan 28. Hum Pathol. 2014. PMID: 24746214
-
An immunohistochemical panel to differentiate metastatic breast carcinoma to skin from primary sweat gland carcinomas with a review of the literature.Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2011 Aug;135(8):975-83. doi: 10.5858/2009-0445-OAR2. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2011. PMID: 21809988 Review.
-
Assigning site of origin in metastatic neuroendocrine neoplasms: a clinically significant application of diagnostic immunohistochemistry.Adv Anat Pathol. 2013 Sep;20(5):285-314. doi: 10.1097/PAP.0b013e3182a2dc67. Adv Anat Pathol. 2013. PMID: 23939147 Review.
Cited by
-
Sweat-gland carcinoma with neuroendocrine differentiation (SCAND): a clinicopathologic study of 13 cases with genetic analysis.Mod Pathol. 2022 Jan;35(1):33-43. doi: 10.1038/s41379-021-00921-8. Epub 2021 Sep 12. Mod Pathol. 2022. PMID: 34518631
-
p63 Is a Promising Marker in the Diagnosis of Unusual Skin Cancer.Int J Mol Sci. 2019 Nov 17;20(22):5781. doi: 10.3390/ijms20225781. Int J Mol Sci. 2019. PMID: 31744230 Free PMC article. Review.
Publication types
MeSH terms
Substances
Grants and funding
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources
Other Literature Sources
Research Materials