title: Fine needle aspiration cytology and flow cytometry in the diagnosis and subclassification of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma based on the World Health Organization classification.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the usefulness of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in combination with flow cytometry on the new World Health Organization (WHO) classification of malignant lymphoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Smears and flow cytometry reports of patients who underwent both methods at the same time were independently examined. Both methods were classified according to the new WHO classification of malignant lymphoma.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A group of 131 smears were examined. In 89 cases exact diagnosis was made by cytomorphology. Twenty-five cases were not classified exactly or were classified incorrectly, resulting in a sensitivity of 96.4% and a specificity of 85%. With flow cytometry, only 30 of 131 patients could be classified exactly, resulting in a sensitivity of 27% and specificity of 100%, respectively. The combination of methods showed a sensitivity of 85% and specificity of 100%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combination of FNAC and flow cytometry obtained by FNAC can distinguish between benign and malignant lymphoid infiltrates and support a diagnosis of lymphoma.
authors.affiliation: Hematological and Oncological Practice, Augsburg, Germany. markus.bangerter@hop-augsburg.de
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bangerter
authors.forename: Olaf
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Brudler
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Heinrich
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Griesshamnuer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D020522:Lymphoma, Mantle-Cell / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014944:World Health Organization