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Cytologic diagnosis of Burkitt lymphoma
Author(s) -
Troxell Megan L.,
Bangs Charles D.,
Cherry Athena M.,
Natkunam Yasodha,
Kong Christina S.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
cancer cytopathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/cncr.21307
Subject(s) - lymphoma , medicine , pathology , fluorescence in situ hybridization , gene rearrangement , biopsy , aggressive lymphoma , fine needle aspiration , cytology , biology , gene , rituximab , biochemistry , chromosome
Abstract BACKGROUND The diagnosis and classification of lymphoma require correlation of morphologic, immunophenotypic, and molecular‐cytogenetic studies. Fine‐needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) is a valuable diagnostic technique that allows material to be collected for these ancillary studies, and for morphologic evaluation. METHODS The authors report a series of seven cases clinically or morphologically suspicious for Burkitt lymphoma. Fluorescence in situ hybridization studies (FISH) for c‐ myc were performed on FNAB material and correlated with cytologic and immunophenotypic data. RESULTS Six of seven specimens were positive for c‐ myc rearrangement by FISH. However, only three of these cases represented Burkitt lymphoma, with one additional case of atypical Burkitt lymphoma. The other cases included diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma, monomorphic posttransplant B‐cell lymphoma, and an aggressive B‐cell lymphoma, with the latter case negative for c‐ myc rearrangement by FISH. Of 2 non‐Burkitt lymphoma specimens tested, 1 was positive for the immunoglobulin H/ bcl ‐2 rearrangement, in addition to the c‐ myc rearrangement, suggesting transformation from a lower grade lymphoma. CONCLUSIONS These cases illustrated the value of FNAB in the diagnosis of Burkitt lymphoma, as well as the importance of obtaining material for, and integrating results of, ancillary studies for the final diagnosis. Cancer (Cancer Cytopathol) 2005. © 2005 American Cancer Society.