There is a group of tumors share the same nuclear size <3 red blood cells
and can be differentiated only by immunostaining.
All thoracic small cells tumors diagnosed between 1998-2001 during 4 years,
at AL ASSAD UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL – DAMASCUS UNIV
ERSITY.
There were 103 cases (66 cases of small cell carcinoma, 30 malignant
lymphoma, and 7 cases of PNET ).
We performed the immunostaining in 31 cases of small cell carcinoma ,all
of them were malignant lymphomas and the 7 cases of PNET*.
PNET cannot be diagnosed without immunostaining.
We must demand the immunostaining if there is a doubt ( clinical or
pathological) about the real nature of a small cell tumor.