RESUMO
1. Lymph node aspirates from 17 patients with an initial cytologic diagnosis of lymphoma (11 cases) or with suspected lymphoma (6 cases) were studied by immunocytochemistry, which led to a final diagnosis. Immunocytochemical staining demonstrated a B-cell phenotype in 10 cases, one case of anaplastic large cell Ki-1+ lymphoma, one lymphoblastic lymphoma negative for B and T cell markers, one large-cell unclassified lymphoma, and one inconclusive case. Three of the cases with suspected lymphoma were diagnosed as reactive lymphadenitis. 2. Combined cytomorphology and cytochemistry permitted a conclusive diagnosis in 13 out of 14 cases of lymphoma. Histology and immunohistochemistry confirmed the cytologic diagnosis. The inconclusive case was diagnosed as a T pleomorphic, small-cell lymphoma by histology. 3. The accuracy of cytomorphology associated with immunocytochemistry is high. However, the diagnosis of low-grade lymphomas, especially of a T phenotype may be difficult.