Performance of flow cytometry (FCM) compared to (immuno)histopathology in Hodgkin’s disease and non-Hodgkin lymphoma We analysed a series of 52 lymph node biopsies. A cellsuspension, suitable for FCM, was made from a small part of each lymph node biopsy. The other part was prepared for (immuno)histopathology. The diagnostic outcomes of both methods were compared.
Day 1
Preparation and analysis of the cellsuspension Day 2
Day 1
Immunophenotyping on paraffin embedded material is performed by immunoperoxidase procedures with monoclonal antibodies.
In flow cytometry immunophenotyping is performed by a multiparameter analysis executed in one or two phases. The first phase is used to detect whether an abnormal cell line is present. If such a population is identified, a second phase is used to subtype these cells.
Day 3
Day 1
Outcomes (Immuno)histopathology
Flow cytometry
B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (20, subtypes: 2 CLL/SLL, 12 FCL, 4 LCL, 1 MCL, 1 plasmacytoma)
Definite monoclonal B-cell proliferation in all 20 cases. Helpful in WHO-classification in 15 out of 20 cases.
T-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (1)
Suggestive for malignancy
Hodgkin’s disease (13)
Not specific but ruled out B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma
Lymph node metastases (3) Follicular hyperplasia (14) Sarcoidosis (1)
All 18 reactive lymphoid cell populations proved to be of polyclonal origin.
Take home message Flow cytometry: fast and reliable B. Nieuwenhuis, P.W. Storm-Bogaard, H.M. Peters, H.J. Adriaansen, E.F. Weltevreden Laboratories of Clinical Pathology and Clinical Chemistry and Haematology Gelre Ziekenhuizen, Apeldoorn, The Netherlands