Analysis of Immunohistochemical Stain Usage in Different Pathology Practice Settings

This study compares the use of immunohistochemistry (IHC) for diagnosing carcinoma in private practice and commercial settings with use in a single academic center. H&E-stained slides and IHC stains, when present, of recently diagnosed carcinomas (n = 200) from patients referred to our institution for treatment were reviewed by a resident and mid- and senior-level pathologists. Diagnostic agreement between academic and referral pathologists was 98%; the former group used IHC stains in 11% and the latter in 26% of cases (P < .0001). Pathologists from commercial laboratories (12% of referrals) used IHC in 38% of cases, whereas private/hospital-based community laboratories (86% of referrals) used them in 24%. The average number of stains ordered per case was similar among all groups. We suggest that the use of IHC may reflect both the degree of experience of the pathologist and the pathology practice setting.