Objective: To explore the value of flow cytometric immunophenotyping (FCI) in the diagnosis and differentiated diagnosis of lymphoma and explain the immunophenotypic features and differences of malignant lymphoma.
Methods: Seventy four fresh samples of suspicious lymphoma were collected from Nov. 2004 to Aug. 2006. Each sample was individually evaluated by FCI. The results were analyzed and compared with the histopathological diagnosis.
Results: Among the 74 cases, the FCI data consisted with the final morphological diagnosis in 61 cases (82.4%). For the diagnosis of B and T non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), thymoma, carcinoma and benign lesions of lymph node, the concordance between FCI data and morphological diagnosis were 93.5%, 100%, 100%, 100% and 81.3%, respectively.
Conclusion: Multi-parameter FCI analysis can provide important information and help for diagnosis of lymphoma. It is an assistant but necessary approach for the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of lymphoma.