The utility of
flow cytometry as a useful diagnostic modality for the assessment of
hematopoietic neoplasms has been established beyonddoubt. In fact, it is now an integral part of the
diagnosis and
classification of various
diseases like
leukemias and
lymphomas along withmolecular studies and
cytogenetics. Prognostication and
disease monitoring by
flow cytometry is also being recognized increasingly asone of the important fortes. This is evident by the number of articles in the published in
literature on the
minimal residual disease detectionby
flow cytometry especially in the last decade or so. To add to this, ever growing list of utilities in
hematopoietic malignancies, many non-
hematopoietic neoplasms can also be analyzed by
flow cytometry. The examples include fluid specimens from serous cavity effusionsand samples from solid
tissues like
lymph nodes, reticulo-endothelial
tissue,
central nervous system tissue, etc.
Flow cytometry techniqueprovides a unique blend of rapidity, high
sensitivity and specificity compared to cyto-morphology and conventional immunohistochemicalstaining. It is also remarkable for simultaneous
analysis of more than one marker on the
cells. Evaluation of limited samples such ascerebrospinal fluid or
fine needle aspiration samples makes
Flow cytometry a valuable tool.
DNA ploidy analysis and assessment ofpediatric non-
hematopoietic neoplasms by
Flow cytometry has envisaged the utility vista of this
technique. This
review is aimed atproviding an insight into the applications of
flow cytometry in pediatric
malignancies.