Cytomorphological and immunocytochemical study of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in pleural effusion and ascitic fluid.
BACKGROUND
Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) is often complicated by pleural effusion and ascites. The present study is an attempt to categorize the lymphomatous effusions according to the WHO classification, using archival material.


METHODS
May-Grünwald-Giemsa and Papanicolaou-stained smears of 31 lymphomatous effusion specimens were reviewed. Of these, detailed cytological assessment was done on 12 pleural effusions and ten ascitic fluid specimens from 22 patients using the WHO lymphoma classification system. Immunocytochemical studies were performed in 21 specimens.


RESULTS
Based on cytomorphological features, the 22 lymphomatous effusion specimens were categorized into lymphoplasmacytoid lymphoma (1), follicle centre cell (FCC) grade-1 (centrocytic) lymphoma (3), FCC grade-2 (centrocytic-centroblastic) lymphoma (3), FCC grade-3 (centroblastic) lymphoma (4), large cell immunoblastic lymphoma (4), lymphoblastic lymphoma (2), anaplastic large cell lymphoma (3) and miscellaneous types (2). Immunocytochemically, the lymphoma cells were T-cell (positive for CD3) and B-cell type (CD20 positive) in five and six cases respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Cytological examination of pleural effusion and ascitic fluid samples, supported by immunocytochemical studies, may be useful for the classification of lymphomas under the WHO system.
Das
D K
DK
Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Safat, Kuwait. dilip76@hotmail.com
Al-Juwaiser
A
A
George
S S
SS
Francis
I M
IM
Sathar
S S
SS
Sheikh
Z A
ZA
Shaheen
A
A
Pathan
S K
SK
Haji
B E
BE
George
J
J
Kapila
K
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001201:Ascites / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016066:Pleural Effusion, Malignant / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification / Q000473:pathology*; D014944:World Health Organization
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor