title: Bone marrow core biopsy specimens in AL (primary) amyloidosis. A morphologic and immunohistochemical study of 100 cases.
abstract: We retrospectively reviewed 100 bone marrow core biopsy specimens from patients with AL (primary) amyloidosis. The morphologic and immunohistochemical features were assessed by standard histochemical stains (H&E, periodic acid-Schiff, Congo red) and immunohistochemical stains for light chain immunoglobulins. Bone marrow core biopsy revealed a plasma cell dyscrasia in 83% (lambda, 65; kappa, 18) of cases. Amyloid deposits were observed in 60% of the bone marrow core biopsy specimens and, when present, were detected most often in blood vessel walls only (39/60). However, if present, interstitial amyloid deposition was significantly more associated with patients with a monoclonal kappa light chain gammopathy (P = .04). Through the careful analysis of standard histochemical and immunohistochemical stains, bone marrow core biopsy provides essential diagnostic information in cases of AL amyloidosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Amyloid Treatment and Research Program, Boston University School of Medicine, 774 Albany St, Boston, MA 02118, USA.
authors.forename: Niall
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Swan
authors.forename: Martha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Skinner
authors.forename: Carl J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: O'Hara
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000682:Amyloid / Q000378:metabolism*; D000686:Amyloidosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D001706:Biopsy; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D002452:Cell Count; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007145:Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains / Q000378:metabolism; D007146:Immunoglobulin lambda-Chains / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010950:Plasma Cells / Q000166:cytology; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D000682:Amyloid; D007145:Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains; D007146:Immunoglobulin lambda-Chains