Analysis of cytogenetic aberrations in a bone marrow of patients with malignant head and neck lymphadenopathies - A single center experience

Cytogenetic testing plays a major role in the diagnosis of different types of lymphadenopathies, assessment of survival prognosis, but also in the selection of adequate therapeutic strategies. Reports on aggressive head and neck lymphomas combining (cyto)genetics with pathology are rare, also lacking in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The aim of this retrospective study was to provide all chromosome aberrations data recorded in the group of patients diagnosed with malignant head and neck lymphadenopathy, and to analyze advantages and disadvantages of bone marrow (BM) cytogenetics analysis. Out of 819 patients who underwent cytogenetic analysis of BM in five years’ time spread, chromosomal abnormalities were analysed in 54 karyotypes of patients with clinically suspected head and neck lymphadenopathy. We recorded 66,6% Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, 26% Hodgkin lymphoma, 3,7% Acute lymphoblastic leukemia and 3,7% Chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Chromosomal abnormalities in the karyotype were detected in 32 (59.2%) of a total of 54 patients. A normal karyotype was observed in 14 (26%) patients. In 8 (14.8%) subjects, it was not possible to perform cytogenetic analysis. The results of this research are representative in a term of the karyotype characteristics of patients with head and neck lymphoma. This is the first work of its kind in Bosnia and Herzegovina and will continue through a multicenter study in order to characterise the diagnostic and prognostic significance of cytogenetic abnormalities in lymphoma patients.