Flow-cytometric detection of phenotypic aberrancies in canine small clear cell lymphoma

Histopathology and immunohistochemistry are mandatory to solve the differential between canine low-grade lymphoma and reactive hyperplasia. However, clinicians and owners often show reluctance toward these invasive tests. However, molecular biology techniques are still not sensitive and specific enough to be regarded as a reliable tool for final diagnosis. In humans, flow cytometry (FC) allows a definitive diagnosis of T-cell lymphoma based on high prevalence of antigen aberrancies. We describe here the immunophenotype of 26 cases of suspect canine small-clear cell lymphoma, determined by multi-colour FC. All cases showed antigen aberrancies and therefore neoplasia was always confirmed. As a consequence, we argue that the combined use of cytology and FC allows solving the differential diagnosis between small clear cell lymphoma and non-neoplastic reactive conditions when histopathology is not available. Further studies are needed to establish if any aberrancy can be considered indicative of specific histotypes.