Cytologic diagnosis of Burkitt lymphoma.
BACKGROUND
The diagnosis and classification of lymphoma require correlation of morphologic, immunophenotypic, and molecular-cytogenetic studies. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) is a valuable diagnostic technique that allows material to be collected for these ancillary studies, and for morphologic evaluation.


METHODS
The authors report a series of seven cases clinically or morphologically suspicious for Burkitt lymphoma. Fluorescence in situ hybridization studies (FISH) for c-myc were performed on FNAB material and correlated with cytologic and immunophenotypic data.


RESULTS
Six of seven specimens were positive for c-myc rearrangement by FISH. However, only three of these cases represented Burkitt lymphoma, with one additional case of atypical Burkitt lymphoma. The other cases included diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, monomorphic posttransplant B-cell lymphoma, and an aggressive B-cell lymphoma, with the latter case negative for c-myc rearrangement by FISH. Of 2 non-Burkitt lymphoma specimens tested, 1 was positive for the immunoglobulin H/bcl-2 rearrangement, in addition to the c-myc rearrangement, suggesting transformation from a lower grade lymphoma.


CONCLUSIONS
These cases illustrated the value of FNAB in the diagnosis of Burkitt lymphoma, as well as the importance of obtaining material for, and integrating results of, ancillary studies for the final diagnosis.
Department of Pathology, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, California 94305, USA.
Megan L
ML
Troxell
Charles D
CD
Bangs
Athena M
AM
Cherry
Yasodha
Y
Natkunam
Christina S
CS
Kong
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D002051:Burkitt Lymphoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015321:Gene Rearrangement; D020570:Genes, myb / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013048:Specimen Handling