title: FISH is superior to PCR in detecting t(14;18)(q32;q21)-IgH/bcl-2 in follicular lymphoma using paraffin-embedded tissue samples.
abstract: Detection of t(14;18)(q32;q21)-IgH/bcl-2, which is present in 70% to 95% of follicular lymphomas (FLs), might aid in diagnosing FL. The efficacy of routine polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) techniques in detecting t(14;18) in paraffin-embedded tissue samples was compared on 5 normal tonsils and 28 FLs demonstrated to be t(14;18)+ by previous karyotyping. There was technical failure in 14 (50%) of the FLs by PCR, likely due to B-5 fixation, and 4 (14%) of FLs by FISH, likely due to advanced specimen age. In the remaining successful cases, 5 (36%) of 14 were positive by PCR and 24 (100%) of 24 were positive by FISH. All 5 normal tonsils were negative by both methods. FISH is superior to PCR for detecting t(14;18) from paraffin-embedded tissue samples because it is more sensitive and equally specific.
authors.affiliation: Division of Anatomic Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
authors.forename: Richard R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Einerson
authors.forename: Paul J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Kurtin
authors.forename: Gerald A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Dayharsh
authors.forename: Teresa K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Kimlinger
authors.forename: Ellen D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Remstein
mesh_terms: D002883:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 14; D002887:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 18; D015321:Gene Rearrangement; D006801:Humans; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / Q000235:genetics*; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods*; D008224:Lymphoma, Follicular / Q000235:genetics*; D016612:Paraffin Embedding; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics*; D014178:Translocation, Genetic
chemical_list: D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2