Exfoliative and aspiration cytology of malignant lymphomas

A cytologic diagnosis of malignant lymphoma based on fine-needle aspirates or body fluids can be made in 50% to 75% of cases. The diagnosis is more reliable for intermediate and high-grade lymphomas than for low-grade small lymphocytic or mixed small cell and large cell tumors. The cytologic evaluation is useful in the diagnosis of recurrence of a previously diagnosed lymphoma and in the determination of the stage, cavity involvement, and distinction between metastatic carcinoma and lymphoproliferative disease. The prognosis and to some degree the clinical management of lymphomas are based on the morphologic and often the immunologic classification. This initial diagnosis is best based on histologic, cytologic, and histochemical examination of surgically excised specimens.