Flow Cytometry of B-Cell Neoplasms

Flow cytometric evaluation is considered a standard ancillary study for the diagnosis of most B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders. Establishing a neoplastic B-cell population depends on identification of light chain restriction or lack of light chain expression in mature neoplasms and demonstration of aberrant antigen expression in both immature and mature neoplasms, as compared with normal counterparts. The immunophenotypes of the most common B-cell neoplasms are herein described, with an emphasis on their immunophenotypic differential diagnosis and prognostic and therapeutic implications.