Immunocytochemistry techniques for the diagnosis of hematological neoplasias.

We studied 22 patients with hematological neoplasias which included: 12 pat ients with a diagnosis of Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia (AML) following the m orphology and cytochemistry criteria established by FAB (French, American a nd British Committee), a Myeloblastic Leukemia secondary to MDS (Myelodyspt astic Syndromes) and a biphenotypic acute leukemia where we established the relationship between the traditional peroxidase reaction with the anti-MPO by APAAP. We also carried out the nonspecific esterase reaction and determ ined the immunologic phenotype by FAGS technology. The same procedure was u sed for the cellular analysis of the light chains kappa (kappa) and lambda (lambda) in 3 cases of hairy cell leukemia, one lymphoma and 4 cases of pla sma cell neoplasia and reactive plasma cell disease. We conclude that immun ocytochemical reactions must be used when morphology and traditional cytoch emical reactions need to be confirmed in order to establish a correct diagn osis and this is specially important for B and T lymphomas. Their prognosti c Value is restricted and the results are useful as a complement to morphol ogy, cytochemistry and immunological determinations.