Application of molecular genetics to the diagnosis of lymphoid-rich effusions: study of 95 cases with concomitant immunophenotyping.
The cytological differentiation between reactive lymphocytosis and malignant lymphoma in serous effusions is often difficult. The present study was designed to evaluate the potential contribution of molecular genetic clonality analysis to a solution to this problem. We examined the cytological specimens of 95 consecutive patients collected during a 4-yr period, including 74 pleural, 20 peritoneal, and one pericardial fluids. Cytological diagnosis in the 95 lymphocyte-rich effusions was positive for lymphoma in 20 cases, suspicious for lymphoma in 26 cases, and negative in 49 cases. The analysis by ICC was not carried out, inconclusive, or noninterpretable in 25 cases. In five cases molecular genetic analysis was hampered by technical problems. By immunocytochemistry, eight additional cases of lymphoma were detected and lineage classification was achieved in 15 of the 20 cytologically positive effusions. PCR and Southern blot analysis were used to assess B- and T-cell clonality. Monoclonality was found in 40 (42%) of the 95 effusions analyzed. One-third of the effusions with a monoclonal B-cell gene rearrangement were detected by Southern blot analysis but not by the PCR performed in parallel. The results of molecular genetic analysis were corroborated by histological findings and/or clinical evolution in 15 cases. Our results indicate that molecular genetic analysis is a useful tool in the analysis of lymphocyte-rich serous effusions.
Mihaescu
Anca
A
Institute of Pathology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Bugnon, CH-1011 Lausanne, Switzerland. Anca.Mihaescu@chuv.hospvd.ch
Gebhard
Sandra
S
Chaubert
Pascal
P
Rochat
Marie-Christine
MC
Braunschweig
Richard
R
Bosman
Fred T
FT
Delacrétaz
Françoise
F
Benhattar
Jean
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D002648:Child; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D015328:Gene Rearrangement, B-Lymphocyte, Light Chain / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016130:Immunophenotyping / Q000379:methods; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D006899:Mixed Function Oxygenases; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction
D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System; D006899:Mixed Function Oxygenases; C436302:phenylacetate 2-hydroxylase