Aneuploid malignant T cells from a patient with Sézary syndrome can be visualized by in situ hybridization
Hindkjaer, J.; Brandt, C.A.; Kaltoft, K.
Archives of Dermatology 129(9): 1141-1145
1993
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-987X PMID: 8363397 Document Number: 410532
Background and Design: Enumeration of malignant cells in Sezary syndrome often relies on the identification of the Sezary cell nucleus. This morphologic method is, however, nonspecific and unreliable in the enumeration of the proportion of malignant lymphocytes in peripheral blood of patients with Sezary syndrome. Malignant lymphocytes of patients with mycosis fungoides and Sezary syndrome are often characterized by multiple chromosome aberrations. Herein, we demonstrate that fluorescent in situ hybridization can visualize and accurately enumerate malignant aneuploid mononuclear cells in a patient with Sezary syndrome. Results:Fluorescent in situ hybridization demonstrated that 90% of the mononuclear cells in the patient with Sezary syndrome showed numerical aberrations for both chromosome 7 and X, a figure confirmed by flow cytometry. Conclusion: Fluorescent in situ hybridization may be a valuable tool to visualize and enumerate aneuploid tumor cells in patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.