Flow cytometric analysis of low grade B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: correlation between histology, immunophenotyping and cell cycle analysis.

In the present study the immunophenotyping and the DNA parameters in the group of 38 patients with B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of low grade malignancy were evaluated in relation to the Kiel Classification. The study was performed with flow cytometry. The evaluation of the FSC/SSC light scatters enables selective immunophenotyping and also corresponds to tumor histology. The lymphoma cells reactivity with selected anti-lymphocyte antibodies depended on their histological type, however no characteristic phenotype, except for lymphocytic lymphoma, for each lymphoma type could be distinguished. Low grade lymphomas were characterized, in general, by low proliferative activity. The differences in percentage of cells in S-phase fraction within selected groups of lymphoma could be a valuable indicator of the clinical outcome.