A method combining morphological, immunocytochemical and chromosomal examinations of the same cell in the study of lymphoproliferative diseases.
6 cases of different lymphoproliferative diseases were studied with the new MAC (Morphology-Antibody-Chromosome) method in order to find out 1) if the abnormal karyotype is confined to the monoclonal cell population, 2) if there are, within this clone, also cells with a normal karyotype, and 3) if the method can help the pathologist to diagnose malignant lymphoproliferative diseases. The MAC method allows a simultaneous study in the same metaphase cell of the karyotype, surface markers, and some morphological features. In all cases in which a monoclonal cell proliferation was detected immunohistologically, the MAC examination showed a chromosomal abnormality for the same light chain as was detected in immunohistology, but not in other cells. In all but a single case, all mitotic cells belonging to the clonal cell proliferation had an abnormal karyotype. In this case with lambda clonality, 2/8 lambda-positive mitoses had a normal karyotype. However, all the normal mitoses occurred in small lymphocytes whereas the abnormal mitoses were seen in large blastic cells. In 1 case, the MAC method helped in confirming the diagnosis of malignant lymphoma (nodular small cleaved cell type). Especially in lymphomas composed of a mixed cell population, the MAC method makes it possible to find out which cell types have an abnormal karyotype and which have a normal karyotype.
Franssila
K O
KO
Department of Radiotherapy and Oncology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland.
Lindholm
C
C
Teerenhovi
L
L
Knuutila
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007621:Karyotyping; D008232:Lymphoproliferative Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged