Value of immunohistochemistry in the diagnosis of malignant cervical lymph nodes

The cervical lymph nodes are relevant due to the diversity of clinical entities. The use of immunohistochemistry is a real method to elucidate the diagnosis of adenopathy, both primary and metastatic neoplasms. OBJECTIVE: To assess the value of immunohistochemistry in the diagnosis of cervical lymph nodes malignancies. METHOD: Retrospective study of the database histopathological specimens from 2009 to 2011. RESULTS: Out of 32 biopsies of cervical lymph nodes, in 16 (50%) the immunohistochemistry was employed, being 68.75% (11) in hematological neoplasms and 31.25% (5) in carcinomas. It was used in all cases of lymphoma. CONCLUSION: The immunohistochemistry was used in 50% of the biopsies of lymph nodes under suspicion of malignancy, being 31.25% in epithelial lesions and 68.75% in lymphoproliferative lesions.