Lack of supportive evidence for the use of immunohistochemical staining to identify occult regional lymph node metastases in primary lung cancer.
Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining for the identification of nodal occult metastases (OM), not detected by routine histological examination, has been proposed for improved staging, prognostication and decision of adjuvant treatment in surgically treated primary lung cancer. In a prospective study, we analysed 178 cases of primary lung cancer stage I-III (N0-N1) for OM by immunostaining lymph node