The Role of CD200 and CD43 Expression in Differential Diagnosis between Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia and Mantle Cell Lymphoma

OBJECTIVE: Atypical chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is most frequently confused with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). Several markers may contribute to the diagnosis of CLL. However, there is no consensus on which markers are needed to be used in flow cytometry for the diagnosis of CLL. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of CD43 and CD200 markers in the differential diagnosis between CLL and MCL. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To address this issue, 339 consecutive patients with CLL and MCL were included in the flow cytometry lymphoproliferative disease panel for evaluation of CD43 and CD200 expressions, but not in the Matutes scoring system. RESULTS: CD200 was expressed in 97.3% of atypical CLL cases, whereas it was dimly expressed in only 6.1% of MCL cases. CD43 expression was 95.7% in atypical CLL cases. In the MCL cases, its expression rate was 39.4%. CONCLUSION: CD43 and CD200 were found to be more valuable markers than CD22, CD79b, and FMC7. CD43 and CD200 could also be considered as definitive markers in atypical CLL patients, for whom the Matutes scoring system remains ineffective.