Characterization of a PCR-based lymphocyte clonality assay as a complementary tool for the diagnosis of feline lymphoma.

Differentiation between resident mature lymphocyte populations and small cell lymphoma cannot be made by cytological review alone and remains challenging in histopathological review. These cases warrant application of complementary tools like PCR-based immunoglobulin (IG) and T-cell receptor (TCR) clonality testing for confirmation. In this prospective study, diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of different primer sets for routine diagnosis of feline TCR gamma (TCRG) and complete IG heavy chain (IGH) gene rearrangements were assessed. Fine needle aspirates from 20 feline lymphoma cases and lymph node material from 10 cats without hematopoietic neoplasia were subjected to clonality testing. Feline lymphoma cell lines and previously confirmed patient material served as positive control. Detection limits for clonal populations within a polyclonal background was 90% for B-cells and 50% for T-cells. Diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of the clonality assay were 70% and 90%. Overall diagnostic accuracy was 77%, positive predictive value 93% and negative predictive value 60%.