BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of lymphoproliferative disorders (LPD) is routinely made through histological and immunohistochemical analysis of lymph nodes. Immunophenotyping by flow cytometry (FC) is a sensitive and fast tool, which may be applied in samples obtained through fine needle aspiration for the diagnosis of LPD. Bcl-2 is a proto-oncogene that appears in several LPD and it has a significantly high expression in follicular lymphomas. OBJECTIVES: to diagnose LPD in FNA samples through morphology and flow cytometry immunophenotyping. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Samples from 25 patients with lymphadenopathies and 2 reactive tonsils were studied through morphology and immunophenotyping. The antigens expressions were evaluated by using a screening panel of monoclonal antibodies (CD3, CD4, CD8, CD19, light chains kappa; and lambda), followed by CD5, CD10, CD11c, CD23, CD79b, sIgM, FMC-7 and Bcl-2 when required. The results were compared with histology. RESULTS:Four out of 25 samples were reactive processes and 21were B-LPD. In all cases there was consistency with histological results. The mean fluorescence intensity of Bcl-2 in Follicular Lymphoma (19.92) was higher compared with other lymphoproliferative diseases (11.93) and controls (3.49) (p = 0.032). CONCLUSION: Fine needle aspiration of lymph nodes associated with cytomorphology and flow cytometry immunophenotyping allows a fast differentiation between reactive processes and B lymphoproliferative cases. The high expression of Bcl-2 by cytometry shows its usefulness in the diagnosis of the most frequent type of B-LPD. Fine needle aspiration sampling requires training and more than one aspiration is recommended.
Fine needle aspiration; Lymphoma; Bcl-2; LPD; Flow cytometry; Immunophenotyping
