The objective of our study was to estimate the expression of 2 antibodies HBME-1 and anti-cytokeratin-19 and their diagnostic importance in thyroid pathology.
163 thyroid lesions were retrospectively examined by immnohistochemistry.
92% (46/50 cases) of papillary carcinomas expressed HBME-1 as well as 50% (8/16 cases) of follicular carcinomas and 15% (6/40 cases) of follicular adenomas. 8 insular carcinomas, 5 anaplastic carcinomas, 20 cases of Basedow disease and lymphocytic thyroiditis, and the 24 cases of nodular goiters did not express it or very focally. Anti-cytokératine-19 marked 92% of papillary carcinomas, 56.2% of follicular carcinomas, 100% of the medullar carcinomas and 45% of follicular adenomas. Whereas the cases of anaplastic carcinomas, Basedow disease, thyroiditis and the cases of nodular goiters were negative or focally marked.
HBME-1 is an excellent marker for papillary carcinoma which can be helpful in the diagnosis of its follicular variant; the association with anti-cytokératine-19 increases its specificity.