Differential diagnosis of IgM MGUS and WM according to B-lymphoid infiltration by morphology and flow cytometry

Clin Lymphoma Myeloma Leuk. 2011 Feb;11(1):93-5. doi: 10.3816/CLML.2011.n.017.

Abstract

The distinction between IgM monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), asymptomatic Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia (WM; aWM), and symptomatic WM (sWM) relies on two features: the presence of infiltration by lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma in the bone marrow (BM) biopsy and the existence of signs or symptoms attributable to the disease. Nevertheless, some patients lack a BM biopsy or it is not conclusive for diagnosis. In this study we have investigated 94 patients with IgM monoclonal gammopathies, in which a BM trephine biopsy and morphological and flow cytometry (FCM) evaluation of BM aspirate were available at diagnosis. We found a clear correlation between BM infiltration of B-lymphocytes assessed by morphology and by FCM with a Pearson correlation of 0.62 (P<.001). Moreover, in the absence of a BM trephine biopsy, the cut-off points that would help in the differential diagnosis between MGUS, aWM, and sWM would be 20% for morphology and 5% for FCM, both assessed in the BM aspirate.

MeSH terms

  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • B-Lymphocytes / pathology
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Flow Cytometry / methods*
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin M / immunology*
  • Male
  • Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance / diagnosis*
  • Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance / immunology
  • Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance / pathology
  • Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia / diagnosis*
  • Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia / immunology
  • Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia / pathology

Substances

  • Immunoglobulin M