Detection of B cell lymphoma involvement in T cell-rich serous fluid by immunoglobulin gene rearrangement: a report of 2 cases.
BACKGROUND
Cytology, flow cytometry and gene rearrangement studies are methods to detect lymphoma involvement of body fluid. The cytology of the effusion is equivocal for lymphoma involvement.


METHODS
We report 2 cases of diffuse large B cell lymphoma with massive lymphocyte predominant serous fluid, ascites in one case and pleural effusion in the other. Immunophenotypic analysis by flow cytometry showed that lymphoid cells express only T cell markers. Lymphoma involvement of effusion was confirmed by immunoglobulin gene rearrangement detected by polymerase chain reaction.


CONCLUSIONS
Our case demonstrated the value of gene rearrangement study in establishing diagnosis of equivocal cases.
Chang
Hung
H
Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.
Sun
Chien-Feng
CF
D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000276:immunology*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015322:Gene Rearrangement, B-Lymphocyte; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000235:genetics*; D016130:Immunophenotyping / Q000379:methods; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D010166:Palliative Care; D016066:Pleural Effusion, Malignant / Q000276:immunology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D007136:Immunoglobulins