OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of cytogenetic analysis in the detection of bone marrow (BM) involvement in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL).

METHODSThe bone marrow samples of 74 patients with NHL were detection by using morphology, cytogenetic test, flow cytometry and molecular biological assay. The detected results of morphology, cytogenetic test, flow cytometry and molecular biological assay alone and thier combined detection were compared, the detective rate and consistencies of the 4 methods were analyzed.

RESULTSThe detection rates of BM involvement by using morphology, cytogenetic, flow cytometry, and molecular biological assays were 21.6%, 17.6%, 23.0% and 33.8% respectively. The detective rate was enhanced to 44.6% by combining the 4 methods. Cytogenetic test showed the result consistent with the other methods.

CONCLUSIONAlthough cytogenetic test shows a lower detective rate than the other methods, but in some patients the cytogenetic test can detect the abnormality of bone marrow which can not be detected by other methods alone, the combination test of 4 detection methods can enhance the detectable rate of BM involvement.