Ancillary Studies in Mesothelioma Diagnosis: Distinguishing the Benign from the Malignant

Ancillary Studies in Mesothelioma Diagnosis: Distinguishing the Benign from the Malignant Why Ancillary Studies Matter Diagnosing mesothelioma can be incredibly challenging. The microscopic similarities between benign reactive mesothelial proliferations and malignant mesothelioma create a diagnostic minefield. That’s where ancillary studies step in—providing additional molecular and immunohistochemical markers that can differentiate benign from malignant mesothelial cells. Several ancillary techniques have been explored, including: Immunohistochemistry (IHC) Proliferation markers Ploidy and flow cytometry Cytogenetics Electron microscopy (EM) While some of these methods remain controversial, others—like IHC for epithelial membrane antigen (EMA)—have become cornerstones of diagnosis.