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Applications of flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry to diagnostic hematopathology
1Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill 27599-7525, USA. cdunphy@unch.unc.edu
Insights
Flow cytometric and immunohistochemical immunophenotyping are crucial for diagnostic hematopathology. These complementary techniques aid in identifying diseases and understanding their progression.
Area of Science:
- Hematopathology
- Immunophenotyping
- Diagnostic Pathology
Background:
- Diagnostic hematopathology integrates cytomorphology, histology, flow cytometry, and immunohistochemistry.
- Ancillary cytogenetic and molecular studies may be required for specific cases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the applications of flow cytometric and immunohistochemical immunophenotyping of paraffin-embedded tissues in diagnostic hematopathology.
- To examine the advantages and disadvantages of these immunophenotyping techniques.
Main Methods:
- Extensive literature review of PubMed (1985-2003) focusing on recent and clinically relevant applications.
- Selection of studies based on statistically significant results, large sample sizes, and adequate clinical follow-up.
- Review of methodologies in selected studies for reliable data comparison.
Main Results:
- Flow cytometry offers sensitive antigen detection, especially when antibodies for immunohistochemistry are unavailable.
- Immunohistochemistry preserves tissue architecture and allows evaluation of proteins not detectable by flow cytometry.
- Both techniques are valuable complementary tools in diagnostic hematopathology.
Conclusions:
- Flow cytometric and immunohistochemical immunophenotyping have broad applications in diagnostic hematopathology.
- Evolving cytogenetic and molecular findings may lead to expanded applications of these immunophenotyping methods.
Objective:
Diagnostic hematopathology depends on the applications of flow cytometric immunophenotyping and immunohistochemical immunophenotyping combined with the cytomorphology and histologic features of each case. Select cases may require additional ancillary cytogenetic and molecular studies for diagnosis. The purpose of this review is to focus on the applications of flow cytometric and immunohistochemical immunophenotyping of paraffin-embedded tissue to diagnostic hematopathology. Advantages and disadvantages of these techniques are examined.
Data Sources:
The literature is extensively reviewed (PubMed 1985-2003) with an emphasis on the most recent applications and those that are most useful clinically, both diagnostically and prognostically. Study Selection.-Studies were selected based on statistically significant results in large studies with reported adequate clinical follow-up.
Data Extraction:
The methodology was reviewed in the selected studies to ensure reliable comparison of reported data.
Data Synthesis:
Flow cytometric immunophenotyping offers the sensitive detection of antigens for which antibodies may not be available for paraffin immunohistochemical immunophenotyping. However, paraffin immunohistochemical immunophenotyping offers preservation of architecture and evaluation of expression of some proteins, which may not be available by flow cytometric immunophenotyping. These techniques should be used as complimentary tools in diagnostic hematopathology.
Conclusions:
There are extensive applications of flow cytometric and immunohistochemical immunophenotyping to diagnostic hematopathology. As cytogenetic and molecular findings evolve in diagnostic hematopathology, there may be additional applications of flow cytometric and immunohistochemical immunophenotyping to this field of pathology.
