T and B cell populations in blood and lymph node in lymphoproliferative disease

A more conclusive characterization of the malignant lymphocyte in lymphoproliferative diseases must include an examination of involved lymph nodes, because histopathology of lymph nodes showed infiltration with well differentiated lymphocytes and in all T cell lymphomata, the infiltrating cells were poorly differentiated.

Abstract

Lymph node and peripheral blood lymphocytes were studied simultaneously for surface markers of T and B cells in 22 patients with lymphoproliferative diseases and 8 patients with non-neoplastic lymphadenopathy. This resulted in the classification of the malignancy from involved lymph nodes into 4 groups. Six patients had B cell lymphomata with normal or strong immunofluorescent staining for surface membrane immunoglobulin; 8 patients had B cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia with pale staining for surface membrane immunoglobulin; 5 patients had T cell lymphomata and 3 patients were not definitely classifiable. In 6 out of 8 patients with B cell CLL, histopathology of lymph nodes showed infiltration with well differentiated lymphocytes and in all T cell lymphomata, the infiltrating cells were poorly differentiated. By the use of these markers, malignant lymphocytes were identified in the circulation in only 3 out of 6 patients with B cell lymphoma, in all patients with B cell CLL but in none of those with T cell lymphoma or unclassifiable lymphoma. Therefore a more conclusive characterization of the malignant lymphocyte in lymphoproliferative diseases must include an examination of involved lymph nodes.