Auer rod-like inclusions in circulating lymphoma cells.
Circulating malignant lymphocytes from a 55-year-old woman with small cleaved follicular center cell lymphoma contained azurophilic splinter-shaped cytoplasmic inclusions. By light microscopic and ultrastructural criteria, these structures closely resembled Auer rods found in acute myeloid leukemia; however, the authors could not find cytochemical evidence of lysosomal origin (results were negative for myeloperoxidase, Sudan black B, acid phosphatase, and periodic acid-Schiff). Immunostaining and flow cytometric analysis confirmed a monoclonal IgM-kappa immunophenotype of the circulating malignant lymphoid cells. The inclusions did not show specific immunoglobulin staining by light microscopic or electron microscopic immunostaining techniques. The authors conclude that these membrane-bound inclusions probably represent aberrant lysosomes in the malignant cells.
Groom
D A
DA
Department of Pathology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles.
Wong
D
D
Brynes
R K
RK
Macaulay
L K
LK
D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D002479:Inclusion Bodies / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D016253:Microscopy, Immunoelectron; D008875:Middle Aged; D009360:Neoplastic Cells, Circulating / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D013194:Staining and Labeling