[Diagnostic utility of multiparametric flow cytometric immunophenotyping in myelodysplastic neoplasms]

Multiparameter flow cytometry (MFC) has proven its value as a complementary diagnostic tool for myelodysplastic neoplasms (MDS). It is almost universally adopted in everyday clinical practice for assessing patients with cytopenia and suspected MDS through simplified scoring systems or elaborate analytical strategies for detecting immunophenotypical dysplastic features in every hematopoietic cell lineage in the bone marrow (BM). Current guidelines recommend flow cytometric analysis as part of the diagnostic assessment of patients with cytopenia suspected of MDS. We reviewed the existing knowledge and recent advances in the field concerning ①the optimal methods of sample processing and handling, ②antibody panels and fluorochromes, ③the analysis of several BM cell subsets, such as myeloid precursors, maturing granulocytic and monocytic components, and erythropoiesis, and ④MFC scoring systems for immunophenotypic signs of myelodysplasia.