Cytogenetics of neuroblastoma: a study using fine needle aspiration cultures.

Neuroblastoma is associated with chromosomal aberrations of 1p and 1q in a majority of cases. Some nonrandom secondary changes were observed in this study. The role of these changes in the development and progression of neuroblastoma is examined. Chromosomal analysis was performed on 33 children with neuroblastoma using fine needle aspiration cultures. Metaphases were observed in 57.5% of cases. 86.6% showed the involvement of chromosome 1. Double minutes and unidentifiable markers was also observed. The most frequent secondary changes included add(4)(q35), add(11)(p13), add(14)(q32), add(16)(q12). add(17)(p13), add(19)(q12) and add(21)(q22). Minority of cases showed deletions and translocations. Ploidy pattern ranged from diploid to hypotetraploid. The present study substantiates aberration of chromosome 1 in the form of deletions, additions, duplications and iso-chromosome with some notable secondary abnormalities.