Rapid method for detecting monoclonality in B cell lymphoma in lymph node aspirates using the polymerase chain reaction.

AIMS: To use the polymerase chain reaction to detect monoclonality at the immunoglobulin heavy chain gene locus in cells derived from lymph node aspirates. METHODS: A nested two-stage polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the VDJ region of the immunoglobulin heavy chain gene was used to detect monoclonality. The total number of cells available for diagnosis by PCR in lymph node aspirates was between 10(4) and 10(5). RESULTS: A monoclonal band was detected in 21 of 25 malignant B-lymphomas. The other four specimens gave polyclonal bands. Specimens from reactive lymph nodes produced polyclonal bands in 14 cases, no product in two cases, and one specimen gave two monoclonal bands. Polyclonal bands were obtained for three Hodgkin's lymphoma samples and five metastatic carcinomas. Four metastatic carcinoma samples gave no amplification. CONCLUSIONS: Detection of monoclonality in a cell population is strongly suggestive of malignant disease. The simple PCR method presented here should complement conventional cytological and immunological methods for diagnosis of malignancy by lymph node aspirates.