Fine-needle aspiration biopsy of lymphoblastic lymphoma and leukemia. A clinical, cytologic, and immunologic study

Six cases of lymphoblastic lymphoma or leukemia are reviewed in which fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy was used to either initially diagnose or to document relapse of the condition. Accuracy of diagnosis was confirmed by surgical or autopsy material or by subsequent clinical course. Cytologically, aspirates were characterized by numerous blast cells with frequent mitoses. Immunologic confirmation utilizing aspirate material was obtained in all cases. Adequate material for extensive immunologic studies was obtained in five of six cases. The impact of FNA on patient management included; primary diagnosis in three cases; documentation of recurrence in two cases; avoidance of surgical biopsy in a patient considered a poor surgical candidate in three cases; correct subtyping of a lymphoma in which material obtained by surgical biopsy was unclassifiable in one case; and correct subtyping of a lymphoma inaccurately subtyped by surgical biopsy in one case.