Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 1, 2026
Label-Free Identification of Lymphocyte Subtypes Using Three-Dimensional Quantitative Phase Imaging and Machine Learning
Published on: November 19, 2018
Flow cytometric pattern recognition of lymph node biopsies with lymphomas that lack lineage characteristics
1Department of Pathology, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Insights
Immunophenotyping (IPT) aids lymphadenopathy diagnosis but presents challenges. Understanding lymphoid scatter patterns and antigens is crucial to avoid misdiagnosis and identify malignant transformation.
Area of Science:
- Hematology
- Immunology
- Pathology
Background:
- Immunophenotyping (IPT) via flow cytometry is standard for lymphadenopathy diagnosis.
- Diagnostic challenges persist despite routine use of IPT.
- Lymphoid scatter patterns and lineage-specific antigens are key diagnostic markers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review common pitfalls in daily lymph node diagnostics using IPT.
- To highlight how aberrant lymphoid cell characteristics can lead to misdiagnosis.
- To emphasize the importance of integrating IPT findings with morphology and clinical data.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature and diagnostic practices in lymph node IPT.
- Analysis of lymphoid scatter patterns and lineage-specific antigen expression.
- Discussion of challenging cases involving reactive lymphoid proliferations.
Main Results:
- Absence of typical lymphoid characteristics in proliferating cells can suggest malignancy.
- Reactive lymphoid proliferations may exhibit similar phenotypes to malignant ones.
- Misinterpretation of IPT data can lead to incorrect diagnoses.
Conclusions:
- Accurate lymphadenopathy diagnosis requires careful interpretation of IPT data.
- Correlating IPT findings with morphology and clinical context is essential.
- Awareness of diagnostic pitfalls in IPT is crucial for reliable lymph node assessment.
Abstract:
Although immunophenotyping (IPT) using flow cytometry is a routine technique that is applied in many laboratories as a diagnostic tool for lymphadenopathy, some diagnostic challenges persist. In this review, we will discuss pitfalls in the daily practice of lymph node diagnostics with the focus on general characteristics as lymphoid scatter patterns and lineage specific antigens that are used to define lymphoid populations. The absence of these characteristics on proliferating lymphoid cells can potentially lead to a wrong diagnosis. At the same time, this provides evidence for malignant transformation. Sporadic examples of reactive lymphoid proliferations with similar phenotypes are also discussed, illustrating the need for correlating IPT with morphology and clinical features.
