title: Combined cytomorphologic and immunophenotypic approach to evaluation of effusions for lymphomatous involvement.
abstract: Combining cytomorphology and immunophenotypic data in evaluation of effusions for lymphomatous involvement is reliable, non-invasive, and expeditious. In this study, 30 effusion specimens from 30 patients with clinically suspected or previously diagnosed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) were evaluated cytomorphologically and by flow cytometric immunophenotyping with a large panel of monoclonal antibodies. Of 11 patients with a previous diagnosis of NHL, 50% had cytomorphologic and immunophenotypic evidence of lymphomatous involvement of effusion specimens; therefore, flow cytometric immunophenotyping is recommended in these cases since there may be substantial therapeutic impact. In addition, 69% of the effusions positive for lymphomatous involvement represented newly diagnosed NHL; in 36% of these cases, tissue biopsy was not necessary since they were either high-grade (lymphoblastic or small, non-cleaved cell type) or of the small lymphocytic lymphoma cell type.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, St. Louis University Health Sciences Center, MO 63104, USA.
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Dunphy
mesh_terms: D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D005122:Exudates and Transudates; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D016066:Pleural Effusion, Malignant / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD