Abstract:
This is a retrospective study aimed to detect the expression of High
Molecular Weight Cytokeratin (HMWCk) tumor marker in thyroid tumors
using immunohistochemistry technique. The study was conducted in Radio
and Isotope Center- Khartoum (RICK), during the period from May to July
2011.
Seventy five paraffin embedded tissue blocks previously diagnosed as
thyroid tumors were selected. The patient’s information was collected from
the archived files of patients. The patient’s ages ranged between 18-75 years,
with mean age 46.5 years. Tissue sections were stained using Avidin-Biotin
technique for immunohistochemical method for detection of HMWCk tumor
marker. The obtained data were analyzed using SPSS computer program.
Out of 75 patients with thyroid tumors 54(72%) were females while
21(28%) were males. HMWCk gave positive results in 46.7% of females
and 20% of males and the histopathological diagnosis were 25,25 and 25
papillary carcinoma, follicular carcinoma and benign tumor respectively.
HMWCk gave positive results in 25, 24 and only one in papillary carcinoma,
follicular carcinoma and benign tumor respectively.
The study concluded that the High molecular weight Cytokeratin tumor
marker is highly expressive marker in thyroid carcinomas regardless to the
patient’s ages and sex.
