title: Detection of B cell lymphoma involvement in T cell-rich serous fluid by immunoglobulin gene rearrangement: a report of 2 cases.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Hung
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Chien-Feng
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D007136:Immunoglobulins