The immunophenotypic analysis of chronic lymphoid leukaemias

Flow cytometry immunophenotyping has become a useful tool in thè daily practice of onco-hematologists, in particular for thè diagnosis of chronic lymphoproliferative disorders. This review will focus on thè use of flow cytometry in thè clinico-pathological approach to thè diagnosis and monitoring of chronic lymphoid leukemias. The availability of new monoclonal antibodies and thè routine use of multiparametric and quantitative techniques have improved thè diagnostic utility of immunophenotypic analysis. Multiparametric immunophenotyping allows thè detection of aberrant antigen co-expression, thè analysis of heterogeneity and clonality of malignant cells, and thè characterization of thè various disease entities based on differential density of antigen expression. Such an approach is important not only for thè differential diagnosis of a particular disorder but also for thè definition of prognostically different immunophenotypical features.