ObjectiveTo compare the diagnostic value between flow cytometry immunotyping and pathological bone marrow biopsy in bone marrow invasion of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma(NHL).

MethodsFlow cytometry immunotyping and pathological bone marrow biopsy were performed in 253 cases of lymphoma.Using clinical comprehensive diagnosis as the gold standard, the sensitivity and specificity of two methods were analyzed, the different subtypes of NHL were classified, and the incidence rate of bone marrow invasion was analyzed using different detection methods.

ResultsThe sensitivity of the flow cytometry in detecting the incidence rate of bone marrow invasion was 91.67%(88/96), which was higher than that of pathological bone marrow biopsy 82.29%(79/96), and the difference of which was not statistically significant(χ²=0.16, P>0.05).The specificity of both methods were 100.00%.The incidence rates of bone marrow invasion of mantle cell lymphoma using gold standard, flow cytometry and pathological bone marrow biopsy were 84.00%, 80.00% and 68.00%, respectively.The incidence rates of bone marrow invasion of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma using gold standard, flow cytometry and pathological bone marrow biopsy were 23.75%, 22.50% and 22.50%, respectively.The differences of the detection between gold standard and pathological bone marrow biopsy in chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small cell lymphoma were statistically significant(P < 0.01).The incidence rates of bone marrow invasion in mantle cell lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small cell lymphoma, follicular cell lymphoma, B-NHL unclassified detected by flow cytometry were higher than that of pathological bone marrow biopsy, while for T/NK cell lymphoma, the bone marrow invasion rate detected by flow cytometry was lower.

ConclusionsFlow cytometry is a sensitive and efficient method in the detection of NHL.