title: Utility of routine classical cytogenetic studies in the evaluation of suspected lymphomas: results of 279 consecutive lymph node/extranodal tissue biopsies.
abstract: Classical cytogenetic studies have a critical role in the diagnosis of acute leukemias; however, they are much less widely used in lymphoma diagnosis. To evaluate their utility in this latter setting, G-banded karyotyping was performed on 279 consecutive lymph node or tissue biopsy specimens with suspected lymphoma. Complete cytogenetic studies were successfully obtained in 177 cases (63.4%), including 115 (69.3%) of 166 hematolymphoid neoplasms. Success rates varied with the specific diagnosis (range, 33%-100%). The karyotypes were abnormal in 97 (84.3%) of the hematolymphoid neoplasms. In at least 3 cases of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, the findings contributed directly to the specific diagnosis made. In a much larger proportion of cases, characteristic but nonspecific findings were identified. Abnormalities of suggested prognostic importance in follicular lymphoma and in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma were identified in 14 (44%) of 32 cases and 8 (24%) of 33 cases, respectively. Most karyotyped lymphomas will display abnormal findings including many that are not completely specific but support the diagnosis, some that provide additional prognostic information, and, infrequently, some that help establish a diagnosis that might otherwise have been missed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pathology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, OH, USA.
authors.forename: James R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.forename: Sofia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shekhter-Levin
authors.forename: Steven H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Swerdlow
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D003582:Cytogenetics; D006801:Humans; D007621:Karyotyping; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics*; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor