Comparison of Cell Morphology and Flow Cytometry in the Diagnosis of Multiple Myeloma

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the value of cell morphology and flow cytometry in the diagnosis of Multiple myeloma (MM). Methods: 166 newly diagnosed MM patients were retrospectively analyzed, and the proportion of plasma cells detected by flow cytometry and cell morphology in these patients was statistically analyzed. Results: All patients were divided into three groups according to the proportion of plasma cells detected by cell morphology: group A (≥30%), group B (≥10% and <30%), and group C (<10%). 1) In all patients and group A, B and C, the proportion of plasma cells detected by cell morphology was all correlated with that detected by flow cytometry. 2) The proportion of plasma cells detected by cell morphology in group A and group B was higher than that by flow cytometry, while there was no significant difference in group C. 3) The sensitivity of plasma cells detected by flow cytometry in group A, B and C was 88.7%, 51.2% and 10%, respectively. 4) According to the immunophenotypic analysis, the immunophenotypic characteristics were similar, all of them were CDl9 - CD38 + CDl38 + CD56 +/ - CD45dim ~ - . Conclusion: There is a certain correlation between the two detection methods. The quantitative detection of myeloma cells by cell morphology is better, and the qualitative detection by flow cytometry is better. Combined with the two detection methods, the detection rate of multiple myeloma can be significantly improved.