By special stain I take it you mean immunohistochemistry. It should be
documented in the surgical pathology report for several reasons, including:

1. The Association of Directors of Anatomic and Surgical Pathology recommend
it. (http://www.panix.com/~adasp/imstain.htm)

2. Medicare may require it for reimbursement, but I am not sure about that
one.

3. If you are inspected by CAP, they might get ya, depending on the
inspector. See below.

QUESTION: 08:1240 (ANP.09039) PHASE: II
Ý
Is there a mechanism to correlate the results of specialized studies (e.g.,
electron microscopy, immunohistochemistry, nucleic acid probes, cytogenetics)
with the morphologic diagnosis?
Ý
COMMENTARY: 08:1240 (ANP.09039) PHASE: II
Ý
THE SURGICAL PATHOLOGY SECTION LACKS A MECHANISM TO CORRELATE THE RESULTS OF
SPECIALIZED STUDIES (e.g., ELECTRON MICROSCOPY, IMMUNOHISTOCHEMISTRY, NUCLEIC
ACID PROBES, CYTOGENETICS) WITH THE MORPHOLOGIC DIAGNOSIS. IT IS NOT IN THE
BEST INTERESTS OF THE PATIENT TO HAVE POTENTIALLY CONFLICTING DIAGNOSES OR
INTERPRETATIONS RENDERED BY DIFFERENT SECTIONS OF THE LABORATORY. THE
PATHOLOGIST SHOULD CORRELATE ALL OF THE SPECIAL STUDIES, RECONCILE
CONFLICTING DATA, AND RENDER A FINAL INTERPRETATION OF ALL CORRELATED STUDIES.
Ý
REFERENCE: EDITORIAL. INCORPORATION OF IMMUNOSTAINING DATA IN ANATOMIC
PATHOLOGY REPORTS. AM J CLIN PATHOL. 1993;99:1.

Hope this helps.

John Shannon, MD