Abstract
Keratoacanthomas may be difficult to distinguish histologically from squamous cell carcinomas. We studied 20 keratoacanthomas and 22 squamous cell carcinomas immunohistochemically using an antibody directed against transforming growth factor α to determine if the pattern of transforming growth factor α expression would provide a useful method of differentiating these tumors. Ninety percent of the keratoacanthomas demonstrated a diffuse pattern within tumor lobules in which all but the most peripheral rim of cells were stained. A similar localization of transforming growth factor α was not identified in squamous cell carcinomas. In addition, 40% of the squamous cell carcinomas but none of the keratoacanthomas showed focal transforming growth factor α immunostaining. Our results suggest that transforming growth factor α expression may be a marker of epithelial differentiation and may help distinguish between these two tumors.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1167-1171 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Archives of Dermatology |
Volume | 127 |
Issue number | 8 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Aug 1991 |
Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Dermatology