ISSN:
1365-2559
Source:
Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
In routine histological analysis of bone marrow biopsies, the distinction between reactive T-cell infiltrates and T-cell lymphoma can be difficult, even with the use of extensive immunohistochemistry. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic contribution of TCR-γ gene rearrangement analysed by PCR.The samples studied consisted of 46 paraffin-embedded bone marrow biopsies (diagnosis, staging and follow-up) from 26 patients with T-cell lymphoma. The bone marrow biopsies were categorized into three groups according to the morphological and immunohistochemical results. Group 1, positive for T-cell lymphoma (24 bone marrow biopsies), group 2, suspicion of T-cell lymphoma (15 bone marrow biopsies) and group 3, negative for T-cell lymphoma (seven bone marrow biopsies). DNA could be amplified in 45/46 bone marrow biopsies (98%). Clonal rearrangement was detected in 30/45 bone marrow biopsies tested (67%) including 15/24 bone marrow biopsies (62.5%) of group 1, 11/14 (78.5%) of group 2 and 4/7 (57%) of group 3. In total, PCR analysis supported a diagnosis of T-cell lymphoma in 15/45 bone marrow biopsies (33%), in which histological and/or immunohistochemical examination provided inconclusive evidence of malignancy.TCR-γ PCR is a complementary tool for the assessment of T-cell lymphoma in bone marrow biopsies. Optimal evaluation of bone marrow biopsies requires an integrative approach of all available results from morphology, immunohistochemistry, molecular biology and clinical data.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2559.2001.01057.x
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