What should you know about SDHB immunohistochemistry?

A pathologist applies an antibody-based stain to a biopsy or surgical tissue sample. The laboratory then examines whether cells retain the expected SDHB staining pattern. Loss of staining can support further assessment for changes affecting the SDH pathway, but it does not by itself establish a cancer diagnosis or predict what will happen.

The result is interpreted alongside the tumour’s appearance under the microscope, its location, clinical history and other pathology findings. A retained stain also does not rule out every inherited or acquired change. Your team may discuss additional testing when the pattern and clinical picture warrant it.

Ask for the written pathology report and the exact wording used for SDHB expression, such as retained or lost staining. Confirm which specimen was tested and whether internal control tissue worked, because a technically unreliable stain cannot be interpreted confidently.

Bring relevant family history, previous pathology reports and imaging information to the consultation. If the finding raises concern about an inherited condition, your clinician may offer genetic counselling or germline testing. Do not change treatment based on the stain alone; decisions may involve review by pathology, oncology, surgery and genetics specialists.

Arrange timely follow-up if a report mentions loss of SDHB staining, an indeterminate result or a recommendation for specialist review. Seek urgent medical help for severe pain, fainting, heavy bleeding, chest pain, severe breathlessness or sudden weakness, regardless of the laboratory result.

Ask: What was the SDHB staining pattern, and did the controls work? What does this finding mean for the tissue diagnosis? Is another stain, molecular test or genetics referral appropriate? How will the result affect surveillance or treatment?