ABSTRACT
Objective To study the usefulness of combined flow cytometry (FCM) and polymerasechain reaction examination for clonal TCR gene rearrangements in the diagnosis of T-cell lymphoma (T-NHL). Methods Histopathologic features, immunohistochemistry, flow cytometric immunophenotyping, cytomorphologic evaluation and TCR gene rearrangements of 32 T-NHL were reviewed retrospectively. The control cases were 18 reactive lesions and 1 histiocytic necrotizing lymphaderitis. Results Out of 32 T-NHL,23 were diagnosed as T-NHL by FCM / TCR gene rearrangements. Of 19 control group, 17 were diagnosed as reactive lesions by FCM / TCR gene rearrangements. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were 71.9%, 89.5% and 78.4%, respectively. Conclusions FCM / TCR gene rearrangement is a very important technique in diagnosing T-NHL. Thus, patients with fine needle aspiration cytology can be saved from having an invasive surgery.