DIAGNOSTIC UTILITY OF IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL MARKERS IN GERM CELL NEOPLASMS: CORRELATION WITH HISTOPATHOLOGICAL DIAGNOSIS

Background: Germ cell neoplasms comprise a heterogeneous group of benign and malignant tumours that may arise ingonadal or extragonadal sites. Their varied histological patterns and the presence of multiple components within the sametumour can create diagnostic difficulty. This study evaluated the clinicopathological spectrum of germ cell neoplasms andassessed the contribution of selected immunohistochemical markers to the final histopathological diagnosis. Materials andMethods: This prospective, observational study was conducted in the Department of Pathology, Madurai Medical Collegeand Government Rajaji Hospital, Madurai, from July 2012 to August 2014. The final study cohort included 64 histologicallyconfirmed germ cell neoplasms. Clinical information, anatomical site, gross findings and histological features were recorded.Results: Of the 64 germ cell neoplasms, 54 (84.4%) were gonadal and 10 (15.6%) were extragonadal. The ovary was themost commonly involved site, accounting for 42 cases (65.6%), followed by the testis with 12 cases (18.8%). The highestfrequency was observed among patients aged 20–29 years. Mature teratoma was the predominant ovarian tumour,accounting for 36 of 42 cases (85.7%). Conclusion: Histopathological examination remains the basis for diagnosing germcell neoplasms. A carefully selected immunohistochemical panel provides valuable diagnostic support in morphologicallydifficult cases, mixed tumours and metastatic deposits and helps exclude important mimics.