American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Certification Practice Exam

Follicular lymphoma is characterized by the presence of which surface B-cell markers?

1. CD4, CD8, CD16, CD45

2. CD10, 19, 20, and 22

3. CD34, CD133, CD38, CD56

4. CD27, CD28, CD5, CD23

The correct answer is: CD10, 19, 20, and 22

Follicular lymphoma is a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that arises from B cells and is characterized by specific surface markers that help in its identification. The presence of CD10, CD19, CD20, and CD22 is crucial for diagnosing follicular lymphoma. CD10 is a well-known marker for B-cell lineage and is typically expressed in follicular lymphoma, especially in the neoplastic follicle or germinal center B cells. Meanwhile, CD19 and CD20 are pan-B cell markers that indicate B cell lineage and are commonly found on normal and malignant B cells. CD22 is another B-cell specific marker that further supports the identification of B-cell neoplasms. These markers are significant not only for diagnostics but also for directing therapy, as therapies targeting specific B-cell markers can be employed in treating follicular lymphoma. The identification of these markers is essential in differentiating follicular lymphoma from other types of lymphomas, which can have different surface marker profiles. Understanding the presence of these particular markers helps clinicians not just in diagnosing the disease, but also in predicting the disease course and determining the best therapeutic approaches.