Flow cytometric immunophenotyping (FCI) of lymphoma: correlation with histopathology and immunohistochemistry
2008

Flow Cytometric Immunophenotyping of Lymphoma

Sample size: 50 publication Evidence: high

Author Information

Author(s): El-Sayed Abeer M, El-Borai Mohammad H, Bahnassy Abeer A, El-Gerzawi Shadia MS

Primary Institution: National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt

Hypothesis

To evaluate the role of flow cytometric immunophenotyping (FCI) in diagnosis and characterization of lymphoma tissue specimens from Egyptian patients.

Conclusion

FCI is a sensitive and specific method in diagnosis and classification of NHL as well as in detection of monoclonality.

Supporting Evidence

  • FCI diagnosed 32 cases of B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with 94.9% sensitivity.
  • The overall concordance between FCI versus histopathology and IHC was 88%.
  • FCI showed 100% specificity in diagnosing non-lymphomatous tumors.
  • Light chain restriction was detected in 32 FCI diagnosed B-NHL cases.

Takeaway

This study shows that a special test called flow cytometry can help doctors figure out what kind of lymphoma a patient has by looking at their lymph nodes.

Methodology

FCI using 2 and 3 color staining approaches was performed on 50 fresh lymph node specimens from patients with suspected lymphoma.

Limitations

False negative results could be due to the presence of heterogeneous populations of lymphocytes in special types of lymphoma.

Participant Demographics

Patients with suspected lymphoma presenting with either localized or generalized lymphadenopathy, mean age 47.7 years (range 5–72 years).

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1746-1596-3-43

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