Simultaneous cytomorphologic and multiparametric flow cytometric analysis on lymph node samples is faster than and as valid as histopathologic study to diagnose most non-Hodgkin lymphomas

Am J Clin Pathol. 2010 Jan;133(1):83-91. doi: 10.1309/AJCP6XVEZU8EXLUG.

Abstract

We evaluated the validity and accuracy of cytomorphology and multiparametric flow cytometry (C-FCM) in diagnosing oncohematologic disease in 223 consecutive lymph node biopsy specimens from patients with lymphadenopathy, from 2004 to 2007. C-FCM and histopathologic studies were interpreted independently by hematologists and pathologists, respectively. C-FCM detected neoplastic disorders in 133 samples (59.6%): 92 non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHLs; 41.3%), 21 Hodgkin lymphomas (HLs; 9.4%), 19 malignant nonhematologic neoplasms (8.5%), and 1 multiple myeloma (0.4%). Sensitivity and specificity were 87.25% and 95.95%, respectively. Positive predictive value and negative predictive value (NPV) were 97.74% and 78.89%, respectively. Sensitivity and NPV were 94.79% and 96.81% upon excluding HL and malignant nonhematologic neoplasms from the analysis. Of the 92 NHLs, 89 (97%) were categorized according to the 2001 World Health Organization classification of hematolymphoid neoplasms with a concordance of 87%. The C-FCM study was significantly faster than the histopathologic study. C-FCM has high sensitivity and specificity, allowing for a valid and reliable diagnosis, especially in NHLs and enabling their subclassification. C-FCM is faster than the histopathologic examination, allowing for therapeutic decisions to be made quickly. However, in the samples in which C-FCM cannot establish a diagnosis, histopathologic results are needed.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism
  • Biopsy
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • False Negative Reactions
  • False Positive Reactions
  • Female
  • Flow Cytometry / methods*
  • Hodgkin Disease / diagnosis
  • Hodgkin Disease / immunology
  • Hodgkin Disease / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Immunophenotyping
  • Lymph Nodes / immunology
  • Lymph Nodes / pathology*
  • Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / diagnosis*
  • Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / immunology
  • Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / metabolism
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor