DNA flow cytometry of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas: Correlation with cytologic grade and clinical relapse

In this prospective study, we correlated cytological grading and clinical f ollow-up of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) with DNA flow cytometry (FCM) dat a from fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) material. FNAB was performed fr om 34 successive cases of NHL, and the aspirated material was analyzed by D NA FCM. Cytological subtyping and grading were done by modified Working For mulation. Cases were followed up Sor 2.5 yr, and cytological grading, clini cal follow-up, and DNA FCM data were correlated. There were 8 cases of low, 14 intermediate, and 12 high-grade NHL. None of the cases of low-grade NHL showed DNA aneuploidy Of the 8 DNA aneuploid cases, 5 were of intermediate and 3 were of high-grade NHL. Mean growth fraction (GF) of low-grade, inte rmediate-grade. and high-grade NHL was 6.1, 9.4, and 19.4, respectively. DN A aneuploidy was statistically significant (P < 0.05) between low- vs. inte rmediate- and high-grade NHL, Growth fraction was also statistically signif icant between low- vs, high grade NHL. Six cases showed clinical recurrence , and one case died within 6 mo of diagnosis, due to widespread involvement of NHL. DNA aneuploidy and mean GF of recurrent and nonrecurrent cases wer e statistically significant (P < 0.05) irrespective of grading of NHL. DNA aneuploidy and GF are not well-correlated with morphological grading (by th e Working Formulation). However, these two criteria are important for asses sment of early clinical relapse of NHL. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2000;22:152-156. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.