Anthony S. Kurec

The Immunophenotyping of Extramedullary Myeloid Cell Tumors in Paraffin-embedded Tissue Sections

Extramedullary tissue infiltrates of acute myeloid leukemia are rare and often difficult to recognize in routine paraffin-embedded tissue sections. Since appropriate therapy for these tumors depends on their precise identification, we have studied a series of tissues infiltrated with primitive myeloid cells using monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies capable of labeling cells of the myeloid/monocytic system in paraffin-embedded tissue sections. The current retrospective study involved tissues from 15 patients (eight men and seven women) with a mean age of 51 years (range, 23–77). A diagnosis of extramedullary myeloid cell tumors had been made on the basis of routine histology, chloroacetate esterase cytochemical stain, and—in some cases—electron microscopy. Paraffin-embedded tissue sections were cut and stained employing the alkaline phosphatase antialkaline phosphatase (APAAP) immunocytochemical procedure with monoclonal antibodies against leukocyte-common antigen (PD7/26–2B11), restricted components of the leukocytecommon antigen (UCHL1, 4KB5), granulocytes (Mac-387, Leu-M1), leukocytes (MT1, MT2, LN1, LN2), HLA-DR (LN3), and elastase (NP57), as well as polyclonal antibodies against lactoferrin, lysozyme, alpha-1-antitrypsin, and alpha-1-antichymotrypsin. Results indicate that antibodies against Mac-387, elastase, and lysozyme are most useful in the recognition of neoplastic myeloid cells. We conclude that tissues containing granulocytic tumors can be identified in paraffin-embedded tissue sections using a panel of antibodies and the APAAP procedure.

The presence of Burkitt‐like cells in non‐Burkitt's neoplasms

In four cases, the morphology of neoplastic cells from the peripheral blood and bone marrow suggested the diagnosis of American Burkitts lymphoma or acute lymphocytic leukemia (French‐American‐British‐Classification; FAB‐L3). Cytochemical and immunologic studies, however, indicated that the neoplastic cells in one case were characteristic of acute lymphocytic leukemia (non‐B, non‐T‐cell type); in another case, metastatic carcinoma; and in two cases acute myelomonocytic leukemia. We conclude that cytochemical and immunologic cell markers are necessary for the diagnosis of American Burkitts lymphoma. In addition, neoplastic cells simulating lymphoblasts of acute lymphocytic leukemia, FABL3 may derive from non‐B lymphocytic lineage. Cancer 50:1770, 1982.

Prognostic significance of mean cell volume in non‐Hodgkin's lymphomas

Cell volumes of neoplastic lymphocytes collected from lymph nodes of 53 patients with non‐Hodgkins lymphoma were compared to lymphocytes from 18 patients with reactive hyperplasia. The mean cell volume (MCV) and the modal volume (MV) of neoplastic lymphocytes were larger than the MCV and MV of lymphocytes from reactive hyperplasia. The cell volumes of neoplastic lymphocytes from patients with non‐Hodgkins lymphoma were more heterogeneous within and among cases than observed in volumes from lymphocytes of patients with reactive hyperplasia. The cell volumes of neoplastic lymphocytes corresponded to subgroups within the Rappaport Classification and the Working Formulation. Cell volumes of neoplastic cells from low‐grade lymphomas were smaller than intermediate grade lymphomas which in turn were smaller than high‐grade lymphomas. When cases of NHL were placed into three subtypes based on the MCV, large cell lymphomas had a significantly shorter survival then small and intermediate cell lymphomas at 12 months. However, a stepwise multiple regression analysis failed to demonstrate any independent value of cell volume in the prediction of survival. Cancer 57:2363–2367, 1986.

Laboratory Management: Quality in Laboratory Diagnosis

Written by Candis A. Kinkus, MBA; Series editor: Michael Laposata, MD, PhD 103 pages. New York, NY: Demos Medical Publishing.

Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase

40.00. ISBN: 978-1936287451 Laboratory Management: Quality in Laboratory Diagnosis is one of a series of useful books that covers key areas of management in today’s complex clinical laboratory. Laboratory Management is a concise review of certain responsibilities of laboratory leaders and how those leaders can best manage some of the more common problems that they face. For managers, supervisors, lead technologists, and aspiring laboratory leaders, this book serves as guide to …