title: Auer rod-like inclusions in circulating lymphoma cells.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles.
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Groom
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Brynes
authors.forename: L K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Macaulay
mesh_terms: 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