The WHO classification of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma stresses the importance of the immunophenotype for diagnosis. The aim of our study was to evaluate the use of cytology together with flow cytometric examination using a panel of monoclonal antibodies including DNA S phase analysis. Material was obtained from lymph node aspiration of 78 patients. The panel for flow cytometric analysis comprised: CD19/CD10, CD20/CD5, CD23, CD3/CD4, CD3/CD8, CD38/CD7, kappa/lambda. The final diagnosis was confirmed by lymph node biopsy. In 85% of cases, cytology combined with immuno-phenotyping and percentage of Phase S cells allowed the correct diagnosis. In the remaining cases it was possible to differentiate T or B lymphomas and estimate their aggressiveness. The panel, although small, was sufficient in all cases except for anaplastic lymphoma. S-phase fraction was important for the diagnosis of large B-cell NHL vs. Follicular NHL. In cases of T-cell lymphomas a reliable diagnosis was only possible for lymphoblastic lymphomas. In conclusions, combined cytology and cytophotometric diagnosis of lymph node aspirations is a good alternative to histologic examination, except for T-cell lymphomas. In contrast to biopsy this method is less invasive and may be repeated if necessary.
Fine needle aspiration cytology; flow cytometry; non-Hodgkin's lymphoma; immunophenotyping
