Affiliations: Institut für Pathologie, Klinikum Cottbus
Note: [] Address for correspondence: P. Stosiek Institut für
Pathologie des Carl-Thiem-Klinikums Cottbus Thiemstraße 111 D-03048
Cottbus Tel.: 0355-462252 FAX:0355-462007
Abstract: Background: Comparative scientific investigations of the diagnostic
sensitivity and specificity of biopsy and flow cytometry of bone marrow have
been seldom performed. Contemporary investigations with plastic embeddings of
not decalcified material do not exist until now. Patients and Methods:
Contemporary biopsy and flow-cytometric investigations were employed in a total
of 431 patients. Biopsies were resin embedded and analyzed by light microscopy.
In addition, anticoagulated bone marrow was aspirated within the same session.
Flow cytometry was performed using a panel of antibodies to distinguish
specifities of granulopoiesis, and lymphatic subpopulations. Results: Flow
cytometry was of diagnostic adventage in acute leucemias and Sezary's syndrome.
It can be helpful in cases of hairy cell leukemia, mantle cell lymphoma and
minimal residual infiltrations of bone marrow. However, in the majority of the
cases, histology resulted significantly in more accurate diagnoses. Best
results were obtained, when both methods have been combined. Conclusions:
Pathologists should re-integrate flow cytometry into hematological diagnostic
procedures.
Keywords: bone marrow, flow cytometry, biopsy, methacrylate, embedding