Purpose: To evaluate the reliability of a PCR technique for the detection of monoclonal B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) in a group of patients previously showing monoclonal gene rearrangement with Southern Blot techniques.
Patients and methods: A group of 22 cases of NHL were studied with immunocytochemical techniques by means of a complete monoclonal antibody panel after previous demonstration of monoclonal rearrangement with the JH probe. Specific Fr2 and Fr3 priming of the variable regions of the IgH genes was used. One positive and two negative controls were used on each PCR test.
Results: Monoclonal lymphoma was detected in 18 cases (82%), seven of them with Fr2 and Fr3, whereas five cases had Fr2 and the remainders had only Fr3.
Conclusion: PCR seems a good alternative for detecting monoclonal lymphoproliferative syndromes instead of Southern Blot due to both its specificity and high sensitivity. The hypotheses to explain false negative results are discussed.