Lymphocytes In Smears Research Articles

742 Epithelial cells in human and murine blood and bone marrow

Cytokeratin positive cells are frequently found in the blood (BL) and bone marrow (BM) of patients with epithelial cancers and are attributed to metastasis. We document here the reproducible presence of epithelial cells (ECs) in normal human and murine BL and BM. We used four different methods: immunofluorescence microscopy (IF), Krt1-14;mTmG transgenic mice, rtPCR, and flow cytometry. To this end, we have made several novel and interesting findings. First, we discovered rare but reproducible pan-cytokeratin+ cells the size of small lymphocytes in smears and cytospins of untreated human and murine BL and BM.

Diagnostic and prognostic significance of Sezary cells in peripheral blood smears from patients with cutaneous T cell lymphoma

Blood smears stained with Wright-Giemsa were obtained from 124 patients with pathologically confirmed cutaneous T cell lymphoma (CTCL), 70 patients with various other cutaneous disorders, and ten healthy adult volunteers. These were examined in a blinded fashion for atypical lymphocytes with cerebriform nuclei (CLs), which were characterized further according to cell diameter. CLs, comprising up to 15% of lymphocytes in smears, were observed in 20% of the patients with benign dermatitis. CLs, comprising up to 89% of lymphocytes in smears, were found in 22%, 30%, 50%, and 96% of patients with patch, plaque, tumor, and erythrodermic CTCL, respectively. Large-diameter CLs (15 to 20 micron) were observed only in smears from patients with CTCL. Total CL counts above 15 per 100 lymphocytes and/or the presence of large CLs occurred in 33 of 49 (67%) patients with erythrodermic disease and in only two patients with other skin manifestations. Blood smears obtained at the time of cytogenetic studies indicated that a total CL count above 15% was the smear criterion that correlated best with the demonstration of a chromosomally abnormal malignant clone in the blood. The presence of large CLs per se, although also predictive of a malignant clone, was less useful. Multivariate survival analysis showed that the duration of disease before the blood smear and the proportion of large CLs within the total CL population were the covariates that correlated most significantly with survival. We speculate that the reduced survival of patients with increased proportions of large CLs in smears reflects the presence of polyploid malignant lymphocytes in the blood.

Diagnostic and Prognostic Significance of Sézary Cells in Peripheral Blood Smears From Patients With Cutaneous T Cell Lymphoma

Blood smears stained with Wright-Giemsa were obtained from 124 patients with pathologically confirmed cutaneous T cell lymphoma (CTCL), 70 patients with various other cutaneous disorders, and ten healthy adult volunteers. These were examined in a blinded fashion for atypical lymphocytes with cerebriform nuclei (CLs), which were characterized further according to cell diameter. CLs, comprising up to 15% of lymphocytes in smears, were observed in 20% of the patients with benign dermatitis. CLs, comprising up to 89% of lymphocytes in smears, were found in 22%, 30%, 50%, and 96% of patients with patch, plaque, tumor, and erythrodermic CTCL, respectively. Large-diameter CLs (15 to 20 micron) were observed only in smears from patients with CTCL. Total CL counts above 15 per 100 lymphocytes and/or the presence of large CLs occurred in 33 of 49 (67%) patients with erythrodermic disease and in only two patients with other skin manifestations. Blood smears obtained at the time of cytogenetic studies indicated that a total CL count above 15% was the smear criterion that correlated best with the demonstration of a chromosomally abnormal malignant clone in the blood. The presence of large CLs per se, although also predictive of a malignant clone, was less useful. Multivariate survival analysis showed that the duration of disease before the blood smear and the proportion of large CLs within the total CL population were the covariates that correlated most significantly with survival. We speculate that the reduced survival of patients with increased proportions of large CLs in smears reflects the presence of polyploid malignant lymphocytes in the blood.

The cytological diagnosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma from exfoliated cells collected by suction method. An eight-year experience.

A specially designed metallic tube, which is connected to a suction-pump and passed through the oral cavity into the nasopharynx for collecting exfoliative cells by negative pressure suction, is recommended in the diagnosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). From the beginning of 1973 through October 1976, among 458 cases of NPC, 405 cases were cytologically positive (with a positive rate of 88.4 per cent), and 433 cases were biopsy positive (with a positive rate of 94.3 per cent). In 1977, from January to October, among 116 cases of NPC, 103 cases were cytologically positive (with a positive rate of 88.8 per cent), and 108 cases were biopsy positive (with a positive rate of 93.1 per cent). The cytopathological features of the exfoliative NPC cells were correlated with the histopathological types of NPC. The degree of lymphocytic infiltration among the cancer cells in smears was compared with that in biopsies. They coincided roughly with each other. It indicates that one might interpret the immunological lymphocytic reaction by the number and typing of lymphocytes in smears too. The authors conclude that this cytological method is fairly dependable, less traumatic to the mucosa, convenient, and easily managed. A large number of tumor cells can be collected. It can also reflect the histologic typing of cancer cells. It can be used as a routine procedure in the clinico-pathological diagnosis of NPC, as well as in a mass screening program.