Cytogenetic and molecular cytogenetic analysis of sacral chordoma.

A specific or characteristic anomaly has not yet been identified in chordoma. Cytogenetic analysis of a sacral chordoma from a 70-year-old male revealed the following chromosomal complement: 42,XY,add(1)(p11), -3,der(4)t(4;?;?18;?)(q12;?;?;), -6, -9, -14,der(16) t(4;?;16)(q12;?;q11), der(17)add(17)(p12) t(17;18)(q11;p11),der(18)del(18)(p11)add(18)(q?)[6]/42, idem,der(9)t(6;9)(q11;p11)[4]/46,XY[10]. In situ hybridization with chromosome-specific paint probes assisted in identifying several of the rearrangements formerly designated as marker chromosomes. Although some of the anomalies observed appear unique to this case, others are similar to those previously reported in chordoma.