Nina Haghi^1,, Hua Guo¹, Sujata Sajjan¹, Pooja Navale¹, Haris Sheikh¹, Neha Gupta¹, Ninette Cohen¹, Judith Brody¹, Tawfiqul A Bhuiya¹, Silvat Sheikh-Fayyaz^1,

The work-up of suspected lymphoma involves conventional cytogenetic analysis for diagnostic and prognostic purposes. Definitive guidelines specifying the size or quantity of tissue needed to yield successful cytogenetic results are lacking, and significant variation in the success rate is routinely observed. Our study aims to describe one medical center’s experience with cytogenetic analysis of specimens submitted for lymphoma work-up and assess the optimal quantity of tissue required to yield successful cytogenetic analysis. 417 cases of suspected lymphoma over a two-year period that were submitted for cytogenetic analysis at Long Island Jewish Medical Center and North Shore Hospital were reviewed. Proportions of lymphoma and non-lymphoma cases as well as failed and successful analyses were evaluated. Specimen size measurements were reviewed to characterize how tissue size impacts cytogenetic analysis yield. 209 lymphoma and 208 non-lymphoma cases were identified. 52% of lymphoma cases and 58% of non-lymphoma cases had failed cytogenetic analysis. Size cutoff value to produce a successful cytogenetic analysis was determined to be 0.2 cm³ (p=0.022). More than half of specimens submitted for lymphoma work-up yielded a failed study. We found that specimens submitted for analysis that were at least 0.2 cm³ produced successful results. We hope to make providers aware of the importance of submitting adequate biopsy material to ensure yield and avoid repeat biopsy.

lymphoma, biopsy, cytogenetic analysis, tissue adequacy