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Guidelines on Diagnosis and Treatment of Malignant Lymphomas

Guidelines on Diagnosis and Treatment of Malignant Lymphomas

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St<strong>and</strong>ards In <strong>Diagnosis</strong><br />

<strong>of</strong> Lymphoma<br />

Tissue collecti<strong>on</strong><br />

Investigati<strong>on</strong>s prior to biopsy<br />

A full blood count (FBC) <strong>and</strong> film (with flow cytometry if<br />

appropriate), should be carried out before a node biopsy to<br />

avoid biopsying patients with CLL or acute leukaemia.<br />

M<strong>on</strong>ospot: in patients < 30 years with lymphadenopathy.<br />

Epithelial carcinoma should be c<strong>on</strong>sidered in patients >40<br />

with head <strong>and</strong> neck adenopathy, who should have an ENT<br />

examinati<strong>on</strong> <strong>and</strong> FNA.<br />

Designated surge<strong>on</strong>s should perform all lymph<br />

node biopsies in lymphoma diagnosis<br />

A designated surge<strong>on</strong> ensures appropriate <strong>and</strong> uniform<br />

specimen collecti<strong>on</strong> <strong>and</strong> prompt referral <strong>of</strong> patients to the<br />

lymphoma service. The preliminary biopsy report should be<br />

available to the multidisciplinary team (MDT) within 2 weeks <strong>of</strong><br />

the patient’s hospital referral.<br />

An excisi<strong>on</strong> lymph node biopsy is preferable<br />

for diagnosis<br />

An excisi<strong>on</strong> biopsy allows detailed assessment <strong>of</strong> architecture,<br />

which is a key feature in lymphoma diagnosis. Needle biopsies<br />

are more pr<strong>on</strong>e to artefact <strong>and</strong> may be inadequate for all the<br />

diagnostic investigati<strong>on</strong>s. A lymph node biopsy is preferable to a<br />

biopsy <strong>of</strong> an extra-nodal site.<br />

Approach to diagnosis <strong>of</strong> a patient with<br />

lymphadenopathy<br />

■ FBC with film (<strong>and</strong> cell marker studies<br />

where appropriate)<br />

■ M<strong>on</strong>ospot in patients < 30 years<br />

■ C<strong>on</strong>sider ENT examinati<strong>on</strong> <strong>and</strong> FNA to<br />

exclude epithelial malignancy <strong>of</strong> the head <strong>and</strong><br />

neck in patients >40<br />

■ Designated surge<strong>on</strong>(s)<br />

■ Excisi<strong>on</strong> biopsy preferred method; trucut biopsy<br />

if node not accessible<br />

■ Node biopsy – send unfixed to laboratory<br />

Lymph node biopsies should be sent fresh<br />

to the laboratory<br />

This requires local arrangements for the prompt <strong>and</strong> safe<br />

transport <strong>of</strong> the specimen. Fresh material is essential for good<br />

quality histology <strong>and</strong> facilitates the use <strong>of</strong> new diagnostic<br />

techniques. See Royal College <strong>of</strong> Pathologists minimum dataset<br />

for lymphoma reports.<br />

Laboratory diagnosis<br />

Sample h<strong>and</strong>ling<br />

In the laboratory, the lymph node should be sliced <strong>and</strong> imprint<br />

preparati<strong>on</strong>s made. Thin slices should be placed in formalin for<br />

24 hours before processing as paraffin blocks. This is essential<br />

for high-quality morphology <strong>and</strong> reproducible results with marker<br />

studies performed <strong>on</strong> paraffin secti<strong>on</strong>s. The remaining tissue may<br />

be snap frozen <strong>and</strong> disaggregated into a single-cell suspensi<strong>on</strong>.<br />

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