Guide to the diagnosis of lymphoid neoplasms in blood and bone marrow: A Bone Marrow Pathology Group approach.

Objective: The successful diagnosis and classification of lymphoid neoplasms in blood and bone marrow is the responsibility of the practicing pathologist. This guide provides a general "roadmap" for this process, from initial case recognition to final classification.

Methods: The integration of hematologic, morphologic, immunophenotypic, and genetic features for the full spectrum of precursor and mature B-cell, T-cell, and natural killer-cell neoplasms that typically manifest in blood and bone marrow is included.

Results: Classification systems for lymphoid neoplasms provide criteria for pathologists to render a diagnosis that is optimal for patient care, treatment, and outcome prediction.

Conclusions: This guide provides diagnostic strategies for lymphoid neoplasms encountered in blood and bone marrow specimens using both the International Consensus Classification and the World Health Organization fifth edition classification systems. Key tips are provided for each entity along with testing requirements, differential diagnosis, nonneoplastic mimics, and other unique features based on the experience of the Bone Marrow Pathology Group members.