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Updated: Apr 17, 2026
Interphase Fluorescence in situ Hybridization of Bone Marrow Smears of Multiple Myeloma
Published on: April 15, 2022
[Analysis of cell morphology and immunophenotypic characteristics in 47 cases of multiple myeloma]
Xian-Du Su1, Rong Lin2, Xiao-Lan Xu3
1Department of Clinical Laboratorial Examination, Nongken Nada Hospital,Nada 571700,Hainan Province,China.
Insights
Flow cytometry and cell morphology accurately identify multiple myeloma (MM) cells. Most MM cells express CD138, CD38, and CD56, aiding diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Hematology
- Immunology
- Oncology
Background:
- Multiple myeloma (MM) is a cancer of plasma cells.
- Accurate immunophenotypic and morphologic characterization is crucial for MM diagnosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate cell morphology and immune phenotypic characteristics in multiple myeloma (MM) patients.
- To evaluate the diagnostic utility of flow cytometry and cell morphology.
Main Methods:
- Flow cytometry with multiparametric direct immunofluorescence was used.
- CD45/SSC and CD38(+)/CD138(+) gating identified MM cells.
- Bone marrow cell morphology examination was performed concurrently.
Main Results:
- Flow cytometry and morphology showed good correlation in detecting myeloma cells (r² = 0.54, P < 0.001).
- High expression rates were observed for CD138 (74.46%), CD38 (100%), and CD56 (57.44%).
- CD38 and CD138 gating accurately identified MM cell populations.
Conclusions:
- The CD45/SSC and CD38(+)/CD138(+) gating technique effectively isolates multiple myeloma cells.
- Combined immunophenotypic analysis and cell morphology enhance MM diagnosis and differential diagnosis.
Objective:
This study was to investigate the cell morphology and cell immune phenotypic characteristics in patients with multiple myeloma (MM).
Methods:
The flow cytometry with multiparametric direct immunofluorescence technique, and CD45/SSC and CD38(+)(+)/CD138(+) gating were used to measure cell markers CD138, CD38, CD56, CD117, CD3, CD13, CD33, CD19, CD7, CD20, CD22, CD34, CD28 in 47 MM patients. At the same time the morphology examination of bone marrow cells was performed.
Results:
The suspicious myeloma cell ratio in MM patients was 9.42%-74.25% detected by flow cytometry, moreover, the myeloma cell ratio detected by morphology examination was 11.0%-80.6%, there was a good correlation between the two detection methods (r(2) = 0.54, P < 0.001). The ratio of antigen positive expression was as follows: 74.46% for CD138, 100% for CD38, 57.44% for CD56, 40.42% for CD117, 6.38% for CD13, 19.15% for CD33, 8.51% for CD20, 27.66% for CD28, 2.12% for CD22, 4.25% for CD34, 0% for CD3, 0% for CD19, 0% for CD7.
Conclusions:
CD45/SSC and CD38(+)/CD138(+) gating technique can accurately gate multiple myeloma cell sets which need analysis, the majority of myeloma cells expreses CD138, CD38, CD56 antigens. The immunophenotypic analysis combined with the cell morphology examination more contribute to the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of multiple myeloma.
