Acquired inv(9): what is its significance?

Pericentric inversion of the heterochromatic region of chromosome 9 [inv(9)] is a common heteromorphism in the general population. It is presumed familial as there are no reports of de novo inv(9) chromosomes in constitutional karyotypes. We report 2 cases of acquired inv(9) chromosomes; 1 patient with acute myeloid leukemia, 46,XY,inv(9)(p11q13)[11]/46,XY[9], and a second with severe anemia, 46,XX,inv(9)(p11q13)[14]/46,XX[6]. The acquired nature of the inv(9) was confirmed by constitutional karyotyping and/or molecular analysis. The inv(9) in these patients may be a de novo inversion that cytogenetically mimics the constitutional inv(9) heteromorphism. Alternatively, it may be the result of neocentromere activation in 9q due to epigenetic events associated with the disease in these patients that results in a metacentric chromosome similarly mimicking the constitutional inv(9). One previous report of an acquired inv(9) was in a patient with essential thrombocythemia. The differences in clinical presentation may represent different underlying mechanisms generating the inv(9). The significance of an acquired inv(9) is unknown and will require reporting of additional cases.