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Published on: August 7, 2019
[Fine-needle aspiration cytology in Hodgkin's lymphoma]
Ruzica Nedeljkov-Jancić1, Biljana Mihaljević, Andrija Bogdanović
1Klinicki centar Srbije, Institut za hematologiju, Beogard.
Insights
Fine needle aspiration for Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) diagnosis is effective. Cytomorphological analysis of lymph node samples showed an 85.2% correlation with histological diagnoses, confirming its significance.
Area of Science:
- Hematology
- Oncology
- Cytopathology
Context:
- Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) diagnosis relies on specific tumor cell morphology.
- Cytological analysis of fine needle aspirates (FNAs) offers a minimally invasive diagnostic approach.
- Debate exists regarding the diagnostic accuracy of FNA cytology for HL.
Purpose:
- To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of cytomorphological analysis of FNA specimens for Hodgkin's lymphoma.
- To determine the utility of FNA cytology in establishing preliminary or definitive HL diagnoses.
Summary:
- Thirty-four FNA samples from patients with suspected Hodgkin's lymphoma were analyzed using May-Grünvald-Giemsa and Papanicolaou staining.
- Diagnostic significance was found in identifying Reed-Sternberg cells and atypical Hodgkin's cells, with a heterogeneous cellular environment.
- Cytological findings demonstrated an 85.2% correlation with subsequent histological diagnoses.
Impact:
- Cytological examination of FNA lymph node specimens remains a valuable tool for Hodgkin's lymphoma diagnosis.
- This method complements more sophisticated diagnostic techniques.
- Confirms the diagnostic utility of FNA cytology in hematologic malignancies.
Background:
Cell composition of tumor tissue in Hodgkin's lymphoma is considered to be specific. According to some authors, precise cytomorphological analysis of the specimen obtained by fine needle enables the diagnosis of the histologically well-defined form of lymphoma in a high percentage of cases. However, other authors consider the precise diagnosis of HL based on cytological analysis of a lymph node puncture specimen extremely difficult. The aim of this study was to a assess the diagnostic accuracy of cytomorphological analysis, as well as the possibility of application of this method in establishing the preliminary or even final diagnosis of this form of lymphoma.
Methods:
Thirty four samples were analyzed, obtained by fine needle aspiration, in patients examined and treated at the Institute of Hematology, Clinical center of Serbia, Belgrade. Smears were stained by May-Grünvald-Giemsa and Papanicolau methods.
Results:
The finding of typical multinucleate Reed-Sternberg cells in the smears of lymph node puncture specimen was diagnostically significant, as well as the finding of mononuclear variances of the neoplastic cells of anunusual morphology (Hodgkin's cells). The cell environment in the background of the above-mentioned tumor cells was heterogeneous. It was composed of small lymphocytes, plasma cells, eosinophils and reticular cells. These cell forms, found in cell preparations, resembled those seen in the tissue sections of the relevant extirpated lymph nodes. The comparison of the cytological findings in the fine needle specimen to the subsequently established histological diagnoses of HL revealed a high correlation of 85.2%.
Conclusion:
Cytological examination of fine needle lymph node specimens is still significant for the diagnosis of HL in spite of the development of more sophisticated methods used for verification of the diagnosis of this neoplasm.
