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Updated: Aug 8, 2026
Database-guided Flow-cytometry for Evaluation of Bone Marrow Myeloid Cell Maturation
Published on: November 3, 2018
Combining morphology and flow cytometric immunophenotyping to evaluate bone marrow specimens for B-cell malignant
1Department of Pathology, St Louis University Health Sciences Center, Missouri 63104, USA.
Insights
Flow cytometric immunophenotyping (FCI) and morphology are crucial for diagnosing B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and leukemia. Combining these methods ensures accurate bone marrow evaluation for these hematologic malignancies.
Area of Science:
- Hematology
- Oncology
- Immunology
Background:
- B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and mature B-cell leukemia are significant hematologic malignancies.
- Accurate staging and diagnosis of these conditions often require bone marrow examination.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the patterns of bone marrow involvement in B-cell malignancies.
- To assess the utility of flow cytometric immunophenotyping (FCI) in conjunction with morphology.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 188 bone marrow core biopsy specimens and aspirates.
- Analysis using morphologic examination and FCI.
Main Results:
- Complete concordance between morphology and FCI was observed in 81.4% of cases.
- Morphology alone detected involvement in 11.7% of cases.
- FCI identified involvement in morphologically negative or suggestive samples in 4.7% of cases.
Conclusions:
- Morphology and FCI are complementary diagnostic tools for B-cell malignancies.
- Combined use of morphologic examination and FCI is essential for comprehensive bone marrow evaluation.
- Accurate detection of bone marrow involvement impacts patient management and prognosis.
Abstract:
For this study, 188 bone marrow core biopsy specimens and aspirates analyzed morphologically and by flow cytometric immunophenotyping (FCI) in patients with a previous or new diagnosis of B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma or mature B-cell leukemia were retrospectively reviewed to evaluate patterns of involvement and the usefulness of FCI. The morphologic and FCI results were categorized as follows: positive by morphologic examination and by FCI (39.9%); negative by morphologic examination and by FCI (41.5%); positive by morphologic examination and negative by FCI (11.7%); negative by morphologic examination and positive by FCI (2.6%); suggestive of malignant neoplasm by morphologic examination and positive by FCI (2.1%); and suggestive of malignant neoplasm by morphologic examination and negative by FCI (2.1%). Thus, in 81.4% of cases the morphologic and FCI findings were completely concordant. In 11.7% of cases, the morphologic examination alone detected involvement, and in 4.7% of cases, the FCI data detected involvement in a morphologically negative or "suggestive" bone marrow core. Combining these modalities is essential to evaluate bone marrow specimens for involvement by B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma or B-cell leukemia.
