Abstract

Immunophenotyping is a routine method to evaluate B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas. Flow cytometry plays a complementary role in diagnosis and classification of these types of lymphomas, since combination of morphologic, immunophenotypic and genotypic features is needed to correctly classifying each disease entity. Multiparameter flow cytometry, which is now carried out with routine combinations of six to eight monoclonal antibodies, allows identifying even small lymphomatous cell populations on the basis of aberrant B-cell marker expression and clonality. The immunophenotypic patterns obtained by multiparameter flow cytometry are useful to correctly diagnose most of cases of specific subtypes of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas and to discover peculiar clinical presentations, such as discordant and composite lymphomas. Immunophenotypic variability, however, characterizes B-cell lymphomas. Therefore, flow cytometry should always be used in combination with other techniques to correctly classify each disease entity. Finally, multiparameter flow cytometry is characterized by high sensitivity in detecting residual disease.

Links

Publisher Full Text

Authors

Carulli G, Marini A

Institution

Division of Hematology and Section of Flow Cytometry, Department of Oncology, Transplants and New Technologies in Medicine, University of Pisa, Italy. giovannicarulli@alice.it

Source

La Clinica terapeutica 163:1 2012 pg 47-57

MeSH

Antibodies, Monoclonal
Antigens, CD
Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte
Antigens, Neoplasm
B-Lymphocyte Subsets
Clone Cells
Flow Cytometry
Humans
Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains
Immunoglobulin lambda-Chains
Immunophenotyping
Lymphoma, B-Cell
Neoplasm, Residual
Plasma Cells
Sensitivity and Specificity
ZAP-70 Protein-Tyrosine Kinase

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article

Language

eng

PubMed ID

22362234