Flow cytometry: Follicular Lymphoma

Background

Follicular lymphoma expresses CD10, with other immunophenotypic featues differing from related disorders.

However, individual markers may not be expressed in all cases - confirmation can be made from histopathology, cytogenetic or genetic testing.

Immunophenotype of FL
Major markers useful in CLL diagnosis
Marker	Freq	Level	Comment
κ/λ			Expect κ or λ expression, undetectable in rare cases
FMC7		-	Occasionally seen, FMC7 is not typical of FL
CD5		-	Expression of CD5 is characteristic of MCL
CD10		Strg	Expression is expected though not universal in FL
CD11C			Expression is not typically seen in FL
CD19		-	Expression is expected, but may be weak or undectable
CD20		-	Expression is expected, rare cases may have CD20 loss
CD23		-	May be expressed by some cases of FL
CD25			Not typical of FL, where present it is not generally strong
CD38		-	Expression is expected in FL but CD138 should be absent
CD43		-	Expression is uncommon in FL, may be helpful in some cases
CD79b			Expression is expected and should be stronger than CLL
CD103		-	Not expressed by FL, consider HCL if found
CD138		-	Predominantly expressed at plasma cell differentiation
CD200		-	Characteristically (though not always) negative in FL

Key to table:

Markers most useful in initial diagnosis are underlined in blue text

Key to colour code for expression frequency Click for link

Key to expression strength code and use Click for link

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