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. 2007 Nov;62(Suppl 2):ii1–ii19. doi: 10.1136/thx.2007.087619

Table 3 Differential diagnosis of diffuse malignant mesothelioma.

Differential diagnosis Immunohistochemistry that may help
Primary pleural tumours
Angiosarcoma CD34, CD31, FVIIIRA
Epithelioid haemangioendothelioma CD34, CD31, FVIIIRA
Synovial sarcoma Cytokeratins, CD99, bcl‐2, cytogenetics
Sarcomas (various) Various depending on type
Localised malignant mesothelioma None
Solitary fibrous tumour CD34, bcl‐2, CD99
Well‐differentiated papillary mesothelioma None (needs macroscopic appearance and usually peritoneum)
Adenomatoid tumour None (needs macroscopic appearance)
Calcifying tumour of the pleura None (usually young patient)
Desmoplastic small round cell tumour Cytokeratins, desmin, EMA, WT‐1, NSE
Thymic tumours Cytokeratins, EMA, occasionally CD5
Lymphoma Lymphoid markers
Metastatic tumours
Carcinomas Cytokeratins
Sarcomas Various depending on type
Lymphomas Lymphoid markers
Malignant melanoma S‐100, HMB45, melan‐A
Thymic tumours Cytokeratins, EMA, occasionally CD5
Non‐neoplastic mimics
Pleural fibrosis Rarely cytokeratins
Reactive mesothelial cells Desmin, EMA, p53