Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 12, 2026

Tumor Engraftment in a Xenograft Mouse Model of Human Mantle Cell Lymphoma
Published on: March 30, 2018
Mantle cell lymphoma: a cytopathological and immunocytochemical study
D Gagneten1, Y M Hijazi, E S Jaffe
1Laboratory of Pathology, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
Insights
Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a rare non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Cytopathologic review of MCL specimens reveals key morphologic and immunocytochemical features for diagnosis, including central nervous system involvement.
Area of Science:
- Hematology
- Oncology
- Cytopathology
Background:
- Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a rare non-Hodgkin's lymphoma originating from the lymphoid follicle cuff.
- Established histopathologic and immunophenotypic features exist, but cytopathologic studies are limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the cytopathologic features of MCL in collected specimens.
- To evaluate the utility of immunocytochemistry in diagnosing MCL from cytologic samples.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 24 MCL-positive specimens from 8 patients (1989-1993).
- Specimens included pleural effusions, cerebrospinal fluids (CSF), and fine-needle aspirations.
- Morphologic analysis using Diff-Quik staining and immunocytochemistry.
Main Results:
- CSF involvement occurred in 37.5% of patients and correlated with disease progression.
- Key morphologic findings: monotonous small atypical lymphoid cells, enlarged grooved nuclei, coarse chromatin, small nucleoli, scant cytoplasm.
- Immunocytochemistry showed pan-B-cell markers, light-chain restriction, and CD5 positivity.
Conclusions:
- Specific morphologic and immunocytochemical features allow for the suggestion of MCL diagnosis on cytologic specimens.
- Cytopathology plays a role in diagnosing MCL, particularly in effusions and CSF.
Abstract:
Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a rare type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma which is thought to derive from the cuff of the lymphoid follicle. The histopathologic and immunophenotypic features of MCL are well described. The literature contains few cytopathologic studies of collected cases of MCL. Review of files from the National Institutes of Health from 1989 through June 1993 revealed a total of 24 positive specimens from eight patients with a diagnosis of MCL. The specimens consisted of ten pleural effusions, ten cerebrospinal fluids (CSF), and four fine-needle aspirations. CSF involvement was noted in 3 of 8 (37.5%) patients and was associated with disease progression. The cardinal morphologic features on air-dried, Diff-Quik-stained material are a monotonous population of relatively small atypical lymphoid cells with enlarged, frequently grooved nuclei, coarse chromatin and small nucleoli, scant cytoplasm, and an absence of large or "transformed" lymphoid cells. Immunocytochemistry is characterized by expression of one or more pan-B-cell markers, immunoglobulin light-chain restriction, and positivity for the pan-T-cell antigen CD5. When these morphologic and immunocytochemical characteristics are present, the specific diagnosis of MCL can be suggested on cytologic specimens.

