Detection of High Molecular Weight Cytokeratin in Thyroid Tumors using Immunohistochemical Technique

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.