title: Utilility of flow cytometry as ancillary study to improve the cytologic diagnosis of thyroid lymphomas.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To evaluate the efficacy of the use of flow cytometry (FC) immunophenotyping together with fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in the diagnosis of thyroid lymphoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  FC was performed in parallel with FNAC in 35 samples of suspected thyroid lymphoma over a 12 years period. Results were correlated with histological or molecular findings and follow-up, when available.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A final diagnosis of lymphoma was given in 13 of 35 (37.1%) specimens. Among the 22 cases considered negative for lymphoma by FC, 11 were diagnosed as thyroiditis by cytology, 7 as reactive, 2 were anaplastic carcinoma, and 2 cases were considered cytologically suspicious for lymphoma but were not confirmed by further investigations. Histology on core biopsy or molecular analysis was available in 12 of 13 lymphoma cases (92.3%). Data obtained by the combination cytology/FC were confirmed in all cases on histology biopsies. Correlation with histology showed a sensitivity and a specificity of 100% for the combination cytology/FC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FC is an important additional test that can contribute with cytology to the identification of lymphomas of the thyroid. FC can detect the presence of small neoplastic lymphocyte populations and may contribute to the diagnosis of cases in which the lymphoid infiltrate is difficult to interpret on cytology alone.
authors.affiliation: Diagnostic Laboratory Department, Flow Cytometry Unit, Citta' della Salute e della Scienza, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stacchini
authors.affiliation: Diagnostic Laboratory Department, Pathology Service, Citta' della Salute e della Scienza, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Donatella
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pacchioni
authors.affiliation: Diagnostic Laboratory Department, Flow Cytometry Unit, Citta' della Salute e della Scienza, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Demurtas
authors.affiliation: Diagnostic Laboratory Department, Flow Cytometry Unit, Citta' della Salute e della Scienza, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aliberti
authors.affiliation: Diagnostic Laboratory Department, Pathology Service, Citta' della Salute e della Scienza, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Adele
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cassenti
authors.affiliation: Diagnostic Imaging Department, Citta' della Salute e della Scienza, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Isolato
authors.affiliation: Diagnostic Imaging Department, Citta' della Salute e della Scienza, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gazzera
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Turin at San Luigi Hospital, Orbassano, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Veltri
authors.affiliation: Diagnostic Laboratory Department, Pathology Service, Citta' della Salute e della Scienza, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sapino
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Turin at San Luigi Hospital, Orbassano, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Papotti
authors.affiliation: Surgery Department, Citta' della Salute e della Scienza, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Milena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Freddi
authors.affiliation: Surgery Department, Citta' della Salute e della Scienza, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Palestini
authors.affiliation: Surgery Department, Citta' della Salute e della Scienza, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sisto
authors.affiliation: Diagnostic Laboratory Department, Pathology Service, Citta' della Salute e della Scienza, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Novero
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping / Q000379:methods*; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010348:Patient Care Team; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor
keywords: fine-needle aspiration cytology; flow cytometry; thyroid lymphomas