Estimation of growth fraction in fine needle aspirates from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma using anti-proliferating cell nuclear antigen: correlation with the Kiel classification.

OBJECTIVE

This study was undertaken to assess whether fine needle aspirates from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) could be used for growth fraction analysis with proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) staining and if there was a relationship between the growth fraction and cytomorphologic classification according to the Kiel classification.

STUDY DESIGN

The study group consisted of 40 patients with NHL diagnosed by fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology. The cytologic classification of the lymphomas was made by two cytopathologists on May-Grünwald-Giemsa-stained slides using the Kiel classification. There were 27 cases of low and 13 of high grade lymphoma. The estimation of the growth fraction was made by PCNA immunoreactivity. The PCNA index was quantitated in smears by counting an average of 1,000 cells, and the count was correlated with the cytomorphologic classification.

RESULTS

There was a strong correlation between the PCNA index and lymphoma grading. High grade lymphomas exhibited a mean PCNA positivity of 74.0%, which was significantly higher (P < .001) than that of low grade lymphomas (17.6%).

CONCLUSION

Our study showed that PCNA evaluation is suitable for smears obtained by FNA on NHL, correlates with increasing grades of lymphoma according to the Kiel classification and may offer a method of monitoring treatment of lymphoma.