title: Distinction between small lymphocytic and mantle cell lymphoma by immunoreactivity for CD23.
abstract: Immunoreactivity for CD23, a B-cell activation antigen, was compared in 22 cases of B-cell small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL)/chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and 15 cases of mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) (intermediate lymphocytic lymphoma or centrocytic lymphoma) to determine if the presence of this antigen can be used as a criterion to distinguish between these two low-grade B-cell lymphoproliferative processes. CD23 immunoreactivity was observed in 21 of 22 cases (95%) of SLL/CLL, whereas only 2 of 15 cases (13%) of MCL were reactive for this antigen; therefore, lack of CD23 reactivity is statistically significantly associated with MCL (P < 0.0001). In addition, lack of CD23 immunoreactivity is also statistically significantly associated with SLL with plasmacytoid differentiation in comparison with typical SLL (P < 0.0003), although only a small number of cases were evaluated. SLL/CLL, MCL, and SLL with plasmacytoid differentiation cases were all uniformly immunoreactive for pan-B-cell antigens such as CD20 and CD22. Immunoreactivity for CD23 appears to be a useful marker to aid in distinguishing SLL/CLL from MCL and may be helpful in routine immunophenotypic screening of low-grade B-cell derived lymphoproliferative processes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Dorfman
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Pinkus
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017455:Receptors, IgE / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D017455:Receptors, IgE