The immunological profile and the morphology of lymphoid cells are the main diagnostic clues for a correct differential diagnosis of chronic lymphoproliferative disorders. In the present study, we used a small panel of monoclonal antibodies for this purpose: CD19/CD10, CD20/CD5, CD23, CD3/CD4, CD3/CD8, kappa chain/lambda chain (for the detection of surface immunoglobulin). This panel was applied in 44 patients seen at our Service, using peripheral blood or lymph node morphology as a confirmatory element. Among them 29 had a typical immunologic profile of B-CLL (16 with kappa light chain and 13 with lamba chain restriction) and 2 were T-CLL. In 8 cases, immunologic study needed peripheral blood morphology for diagnostic confirmation: 6 cases of immunocytoma and 2 prolymphocytic leukemias. The 5 patients with mantle cell lymphoma were diagnosed based on the immunologic profile of peripheral blood or lymph node aspirates. The present observation underlines the importance of the immunophenotype in the correct diagnosis of the chronic lymphoproliferative syndromes. The small panel used was sufficient, when morphological examination of peripheral blood or lymph node was used for diagnostic confirmation if necessary.
lymphoproliferatives syndromes; chronic lymphocitic leukemia; diagnosis; immunophenotyping
