Clinical utility of molecular probes in lymphoproliferative disorders

The use of molecular probes to diagnose and evaluate human malignancies has been most prominent in the disease category of malignant lymphoma. While this technology is daunting, it has gained rapid entry into the laboratories of both academic and community hospitals. This is because the molecular analysis of genetic changes in human disease, especially the human lymphomas, contributes to many facets of care including aiding the diagnosis, providing prognosis and helping to monitor the disease process. This review aims to highlight both the current routinely available technology and its practical applications in human lymphoma.