DNA polymerase chain reaction using fine needle aspiration biopsy smears to evaluate non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
OBJECTIVE
To apply polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis to the fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) evaluation of lymphoid proliferations.


METHODS
We analyzed 37 consecutive archived FNAB malignant lymphoma specimens. Immunophenotypic data from the fine needle aspiration biopsy and excisional biopsy material was available for all specimens. PCR to identify monoclonal rearrangements of the immunoglobulin heavy chain gene, T-cell receptor and translocations involving the bcl-1 and bcl-2 genes was performed.


RESULTS
Seventy-eight percent of cases were detected by at least one of these assays. Where DNA analysis was performed on excisional biopsy material, 70% of the cases had identical results; no discordant results for the immunoglobulin heavy chain gene or T-cell receptor were found. In 23% of cases, after review of all available data, a discordant result was thought to be a consequence of a false negative result in DNA analysis of excisional biopsy material.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings indicate that PCR analysis of archived FNAB material, when necessary, provides useful information for diagnosis and staging of malignant non-Hodgkin's lymphomas.
Grosso
L E
LE
Department of Pathology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Missouri 63104, USA. grossole@slu.edu
Collins
B T
BT
D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000379:methods*; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D019992:Databases as Topic; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D019254:Genes, bcl-2; D006801:Humans; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / Q000235:genetics; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D008224:Lymphoma, Follicular / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D020522:Lymphoma, Mantle-Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013048:Specimen Handling
D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains