Orathai Promsuwicha MSc*, Supattra Kankhao BSc*, Wayuree Songmuang BSc*, Chirayu U Auewarakul MD, PhD*
Affiliation : * Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
Background : Diagnosis of hematologic malignancies requires a multidisciplinary approach. Flow cytometry (FCM) has
become an essential tool for immunophenotypic studies of malignant hematopoietic cells.
Objective : To evaluate the utilization trend of FCM and its diagnostic yields for hematologic malignancy at a major teaching
hospital in Thailand.
Material and Method: FCM results of bone marrow (BM) and peripheral blood (PB) specimens during 2000-2013 were
analyzed and compared to clinical diagnosis.
Results : Overall, 7,982 specimens were submitted for diagnostic FCM including 6,561 BM and 1,421 PB. The number of
specimens analyzed was 121, 142, 164, 299, 491, 431, 690, 611, 719, 744, 725, 863, 955 and 1,027, respectively, from 2000
to 2013. The most common clinical diagnoses requested for FCM were acute leukemia (5,911 cases, 74%) followed by
lymphoma (1,419 cases, 17.8%), and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) (634 cases, 7.94%). The highest diagnostic yield
of FCM was found in acute leukemia cases (69.71%) followed by CLL (35.33%). Only 15.43% of clinically suspected
lymphoma cases were positive by FCM. Overutilization of PB (35.6% of cases) instead of BM for lymphoma staging
significantly contributed to low diagnostic yields of lymphoma by FCM as circulating tumor cells may not be present in
such cases.
Conclusion : FCM has an increasing role in the diagnosis of hematologic malignancies in Thai patients over the past
14 years with the highest diagnostic yield in acute leukemia. Appropriate specimen types and study indications are required
in order to reduce futility of costly diagnostic tests and improve diagnostic yields.
Keywords : Flow cytometry, Diagnostic yields, Acute leukemia, Lymphoma, Hematologic malignancy, Thailand
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