Abstract

Neuroblastoma, ganglioneuroblastoma and ganglioneuroma are derived from primordial neural crest cells and can be conceptualized as three different maturational manifestations of a common neoplasm. To assess the validity of immunohistochemistry and DNA Ploidy in the diagnosis of neuroblastic tumor in terms of prognostication, histologic and immunohistochemical evaluation with NB-84, neuron specific enolase(NSE) and S-100 protein and flow Cytometric DNA analysis were done on 21 neuroblastomas and 19 ganglioneuromas. Thirteen of 21 neuroblastomas were undifferentiated and 8 differentiating in type. Eleven of the 19 ganglioneuromas were mature in type and 8 had immature foci. Eighty one percent of neuroblastomas were positive for NB-84, 100% for NSE and 67% for S-100 protein, respectively. All ganglioneuromas were positive for NSE and S-100 protein, in contrast, only immature foci in ganglioneuroma were positive for NB-84. B-84 reacted positively with undifferentiated and differentiating neuroblasts including neuropil but not with mature ganglion cells. In contrast, NSE reacted positively with all components of neuroblastic tumor and S-100 protein mainly with cells of Schwannian differentiation. Three of eight(37.5%) differentiating neuroblastomas were strongly positive for NB-84 in contrast with seven of thirteen(53.8%) undifferentiated tumors, reflecting that undifferentiated cells tended to be positive for NB-84 in neuroblastoma. Twenty two percent of neuroblastoma showed diploidy and 78% aneuploidy including 11% of near-diploidy. Seven of eight(87.5%) differentiating neuroblastomas in contrast with seven of ten(70%) undifferentiated tumors showed aneuploidy. By contrast, 53% of ganglioneuroma showed diploidy and 47% aneuploidy with DNA index ranged from 1.12 to 1.19. Three of nine(33.3%) mature ganglioneuromas in contrast with five of eight(62.5%) ganglioneuromas with immature foci showed aneupolidy. Differentiating neuroblastoma tended to be aneuploid and ganglioneuroma with immature foci tended to be near-diploid. In conclusion, immunohistochemistry for NB-84, NSE and S-100 protein is useful for confirming neuronal, both neuronal and Schwannian, and Schwannian differentiation, respectively. Immunohistochemistry together with flow cytometric DNA analysis would be helpful to confirm the immature foci in ganglioneuroma.

• Keywords: Neuroblastoma;Ganglioneuroma;Immunohistochemistry;NB-84;Neuron specific enolase;S-100 protein;DNA ploidy;