Splenic B cell lymphoma with lymphocyte clusters in peripheral blood smears

摘要

EDTA induced clumping of lymphoid cells, both benign and malignant, in peripheral blood samples has been re- ported only rarely. Such clustering presents the laboratory and pathologist with unique difficulties in the accurate diagnosis of these disorders. A cases of low grade B cell splenic lymphoma is pre- sented with lymphocyte clumping in smears made from EDTA anticoagulated peripheral blood, the fourth case de- scribed in which neoplastic lymphoid cells form clusters in vitro in peripheral blood. The association with splenic lymphomas (three of the four cases) is intriguing but its significance remains uncertain.