Electron microscopic morphometry of chronic type lymphoid leukemias

Abstract

Abstract. Malignant cells from 1 case of chronic lymphocytic leukemia of the T-cell type (T-CLL), 5 cases of chronic lymphocytic leukemia of the B-cell type (B-CLL), 1 case of prolymphocytic leukemia of the B-cell type (B-PLL), 1 case of lymphocytic lymphoma of intermediate differentiation of the B-cell type (B-ILL), 1 case of splenic B-cell lymphoma with circulating villous lymphocytes (SLVL), and 2 cases of hairy cell leukemia (HCL) were measured on electron micrographs. The area of the cytoplasm, nucleus, nucleoli, and the perimeters of nuclei were measured and the nucleo-cytoplasmic ratio, nucleolonuclear ratio, and nuclear contour index (NCI) were calculated. Malignant cells from B-PLL had the largest cytoplasmic, nuclear, and nucleolar areas. The NCI was largest (4.74) in T-CLL. B-ILL, B-PLL, and SLVL had an intermediate (4.5) NCI. HCL and B-CLL had the smallest (4.1) NCI. Lymphoid cells in SLVL were smaller in size than HCL cells and had a higher NCI than that of HCL. Thus, electron microscopic morphometry can provide further information to aid in distinguishing chronic type lymphoid leukemias.