Morphonuclear comparison of the mantle zone and diffuse subtypes of mantle cell lymphoma

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a distinct type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, which, based on the architectural pattern, has been divided into mantle zone (MCL-MZ), allegedly associated with longer survival, and diffuse (MCL-D) subtypes. To determine whether there are morphonuclear differences between MCL-MZ and MCL-D, 37 fine needle aspirates (FNAs) obtained from 32 patients with MCL (21 cases of MCL-MZ and 11 of MCL-D) were evaluated using digital cell image analysis. Twenty-one morphometric parameters related to geometry, color, texture and densitometry were evaluated on 100 cells from each case. Aspirated material was stained with either the Diff-Quik or Feulgen method. Statistical analysis (student's t test and nonparametric Mann-Whitney test) was performed. No significant differences between MCL-MZ and MCL-D were found in any of the 21 studied morphonuclear parameters. The morphometric analysis results were similar using the Diff-Quik and Feulgen techniques. This study confirmed the overlapping cytologic spectrum of MCL-MZ and MCL-D and indicated that histologic specimens demonstrating a specific architectural pattern are necessary to differentiate these two variants of MCL. Either Diff-Quik- or Feulgen-stained tissues may be used for morphonuclear measurements in FNAs of MCL since both give similar results.