Lymph Node, Follicular Lymphoma

Follicular lymphoma (FL) is a non-Hodgkin B-cell lymphoma which may be detected on lymphoma protocol including touch preparations and smears from involved lymph nodes. Preparations will demonstrate a predominant population of centrocytic cells which demonstrate scant cytoplasm with a cleaved nucleus, and centroblastic cells which are large cells with pale round nuclei with coarse chromatin and two or more marginal nucleoli. It is recommended to confirm that the cells are neoplastic with flow cytometry; molecular analysis will demonstrate a t(14,18) translocation. Immunohistochemistry will show over-expression of the anti-apoptotic protein BCL2.