Post chemotherapy diagnostic dilemma: A case report

Abstract

Diagnostic evaluation of tumors in their posttherapeutic stage requires a meticulous approach for correct diagnosis as chemotherapy or radiotherapy often alters the tumor characteristics that vary significantly from their pretherapeutic phase. Here, we report a case of chemotherapy-received retroperitoneal lymph node deposits of metastatic testicular embryonal carcinoma that failed to express immunohistochemistry (IHC) markers employed to make diagnosis in the pretherapeutic phase. The dilemma of overdiagnosis so created was resolved by the use of added markers that probably could sustain the slaught of chemotherapy. Therefore, a judicious and diligent understanding of the use and action of IHC markers is utmost necessary to prevent such dilemmas.