Optimizing antibody panels for efficient and cost-effective flow cytometric diagnosis of acute leukemia.

BACKGROUND: Differentiating acute myeloid leukemia (AML) from acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) determines effective patient management and often depends on flow cytometry. Antibodies used in flow cytometry are costly, and the expenses are not always reimbursed. Having observed that AML and ALL have distinct patterns in the CD45/SSC panel, we set to analyze more leukemia cases and establish an algorithm for the efficient diagnosis of acute leukemia. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 127 consecutive cases of acute leukemia within the last 2 years and correlated the blast distribution patterns in the CD45/SSC panel, with the morphology and the detailed immunophenotype. RESULTS: Our results show that all the acute leukemias can be initially triaged into AML, ALL, and Indeterminate provisional groups based on the blast distribution patterns in the CD45/SSC panel and morphology. Each group was then further analyzed with tailored AML, ALL, and Indeterminate flow panels. Using this approach, we have efficiently and correctly diagnosed almost all the acute leukemias. Our analysis also determined the minimal numbers of immunological markers needed for the lineage assignment of acute leukemia. CONCLUSION: The algorithmic approach with tailored subsequent antibody selection could maintain diagnostic accuracy while significantly reducing reagent use, labor, and time. With a shrinking reimbursement for flow cytometric studies, an increase in laboratory efficiency without compromising diagnostic accuracy or turnaround time will contribute to preserving revenue and optimizing clinical service.

Large B-cell lymphoma with an unusual infiltrating pattern: report of two cases.

Large B-cell lymphoma presents with the most varied infiltrating patterns and morphologies. Here we report two cases of unusual large B-cell lymphoma in two old female patients. Both lymphomas show: 1) scattered and clustered large B-cells infiltrating the periphery of polyclonal lymphoid nodules; 2) large B-cells with an immunoblastic morphology; 3) large B-cell infiltration associated with vascular proliferation; 4) coexisting lymphoid nodules with hyaline vascular proliferation. The first case took an aggressive clinical course with transformation into acute leukemia, and imparted a short patient survival, whereas the second case responded to chemotherapy, experienced a local recurrence and long survival for >7 years. To our knowledge, these are the first reported cases of large B-cell lymphomas with a paranodular infiltrating pattern, immunoblastic morphology, and associated vascular proliferation.