Combining fine-needle aspiration and flow cytometric immunophenotyping in evaluation of nodal and extranodal sites for possible lymphoma: a retrospective review.

The relatively recent evaluation of nodal and extranodal sites for malignant lymphoma by combining fine-needle aspiration (FNA) and flow cytometric immunophenotyping (FCI) techniques has resulted in a most rapid, accurate method. Our study represents a comprehensive retrospective review of in vivo applications of these techniques to cases suspicious for malignant lymphoma. We report our findings, which support the usefulness of these techniques, particularly in diagnosis and staging of primary and recurrent B-cell lymphomas (BCL). The findings of necrosis and numerous polymorphonuclear cells in cases with a previous history of BCL demand tissue biopsy. Initial diagnosis of BCL by FNA and FCI may obviate tissue biopsy.