title: Needle-core biopsy in the pathologic diagnosis of malignant lymphoma showing high reproducibility among pathologists.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the role of needle-core biopsy in the pathologic diagnosis of lymphoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and five cases with clinical suspicion for lymphoma were studied by 3 hematopathologists mimicking daily diagnostic service. The diagnostic result sheets were analyzed for diagnostic accuracy and reproducibility. The histologic pattern recognition by the 3 hematopathologists was also analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall diagnostic accuracy, based on the consensus diagnosis, was 85% to 87%. High reproducibility of diagnosis in lymphoma was observed among pathologists. The tissue size was associated with the percentage of definitive diagnosis. Histologic patterns were well recognized on core tissues.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Needle-core biopsy is an effective technique for the diagnosis of lymphoma and should be considered the first-line procedure for cases with suspicion for lymphoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Alegent Creighton Health, Omaha, NE, USA. qinglonghu@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Qinglong
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Hina
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Naushad
authors.forename: Qingmei
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Islam
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Al-Howaidi
authors.forename: Minghua
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
keywords: Lymphoma; Needle-core biopsy; Pathologic diagnosis