RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Pitfalls in lymphoma pathology: avoiding errors in diagnosis of lymphoid tissues
JF Journal of Clinical Pathology
JO J Clin Pathol
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Association of Clinical Pathologists
SP 466
OP 476
DO 10.1136/jcp.2010.080846
VO 64
IS 6
A1 Bridget S Wilkins
YR 2011
UL http://jcp.bmj.com/content/64/6/466.abstract
AB The complexity involved in the histological interpretation of lymph nodes and other lymphoid tissue specimens suspected of harbouring lymphoma is underappreciated. As with other histology specimens, the quality of sections and background information are crucial but so, increasingly, is the appropriate use of immunocytochemistry and a variety of molecular analyses. Within the UK National Health Service, progressive regional centralisation is ongoing, to ensure access to specialist expertise and a full range of testing beyond traditional stains. This is to be welcomed but there remains a need to maintain skills in smaller district hospitals, to ensure lymphoma recognition in unexpected circumstances, to permit clinically useful interim diagnoses when needed urgently and to sustain training in haematopathology among junior pathologists. In this review a range of potential pitfalls in lymphoid tissue pathology is outlined, arising at all stages from specimen preparation to reporting. Knowledge of such pitfalls, some of which are common while others are rare but of vital clinical importance, should help increase confidence in lymphoma diagnosis among histopathologists.