ESTIMATION OF GROWTH FRACTION IN FINE-NEEDLE ASPIRATES FROM NON-HODGKINS-LYMPHOMA USING ANTI-PROLIFERATING CELL NUCLEAR ANTIGEN - CORRELATION WITH THE KIEL CLASSIFICATION

OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to assess whether fine needle asp irates from non-Hodgkins lymphoma (NHL) could be used for growth fract ion analysis with proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) staining a nd if there was a relationship between the growth fraction and cytomor phologic classification according to the Kiel classification. STUDY DE SIGN: The study group consisted of 40 patients with NHL diagnosed by f ine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology. The cytologic classification of the lymphomas was made by two cytopathologists on May-Grunwald-Giemsa- stained slides using the Kiel classification. There were 27 cases of l ow and 13 of high grade lymphoma. The estimation of the growth fractio n was made by PCNA immunoreactivity. The PCNA index was quantitated in smears by counting an average of 1,000 cells, and the count teas corr elated with the cytomorphologic classification. RESULTS: There was It strong correlation between the PCNA index and lymphoma grading. High g rade lymphomas exhibited a mean PCNA positivity of 74.0%, which was si gnificantly higher (P <.001) than that of low grade lymphomas (17.6%). CONCLUSION: Our study showed that PCNA evalua tion is suitable for sm ears obtained by FNA on NHL, correlates with increasing grades of lymp homa according to the Kiel classification and may offer a method of mo nitoring treatment of lymphoma.