What is the primary use of immunohistochemistry in pathology?

The primary use of immunohistochemistry in pathology is to identify specific cell types in tissues. This technique utilizes antibodies that are tagged with a labeling agent to bind to specific antigens present in the cells of tissue samples. By applying these antibodies, pathologists can visualize and locate particular proteins or markers within the tissue sections under a microscope. This capability is crucial in determining the nature of diseases, such as identifying cancer cells, distinguishing between different types of tumors, and understanding the tissue microenvironment.

This method is invaluable in diagnostic pathology, especially for characterizing tumors based on their immunophenotype, which influences treatment decisions and prognostic evaluations. Through immunohistochemistry, it becomes possible to ascertain the presence or absence of specific proteins that are indicative of various pathological conditions, thereby improving the accuracy of diagnoses compared to other methods that do not provide such detailed cellular information.