Onkológia 2/2008

MALIGNANT LYMPHOMA DIAGNOSIS FROM THE PATHOLOGIST´S POINT OF VIEW

A review article written form the pathologist´s point of view and from a position of a pathologist leading the Slovak national consultation center for malignant lymphoma (ML) biopsy diagnosis summarizes the pathologist´s opinion on the methods of handling, examination and archivation of the biopsy specimens as well as on the role and importance of all methods and technologies of the tissue examination, incl. implementation of analyses of the tumor cell´s phenotype and genotype. The correct biopsy diagnosis includes also standardization of the lymphoma diagnosis and reporting leading to a correct typing, grading and staging of ML as well as to the identification of clinically relevant prognostic and predictive parameters of the tumour cells and of possible therapeutical targets. The standardization includes also mechanisms of the second look opinion and implementation of the quality control mechanisms of the whole diagnostic process.

Keywords: words: malignant lymphoma, biopsy diagnosis, prognostic and predictive parameters, second look opinion