Translocation t(X;10)(p10;p10): a rare chromosomal abnormality in a new born female with acute myeloid leukemia.

Sex chromosomes are infrequently involved in patients with hematologic malignancies. In most instances, the abnormality is either duplication in the q arm or deletion and translocation involving the q13 and q24 regions. We report herein a rare translocation t(X;10)(p10;p10) in a newborn with 2 months and 20 days with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) (FAB, M4). Cytogenetic analysis detected a cell clone with t(X;10)(p10;p10). Thus was confirmed by FISH analysis with whole chromosome painting (WCP) specific for chromosomes X and 10. The patient was treated with chemotherapy, and a complete morphologic and cytogenetic remission was achieved. To our knowledge, our case is the first report of a neonatal AML4 with t(X; 10). The patient had an excellent early response to a salvage AML-type therapy. The prognostic significance of the t(X; 10) in this setting remains unclear. Due to the rarity of this translocation, further cytogenetic and molecular biologic studies are required to elucidate the clinical and molecular significance of this unusual karyotypic finding.