Rhabdomyosarcoma: cytogenetics of five cases using fine-needle aspiration samples and review of the literature

Cytogenetic analyses of fine-needle aspiration samples were performed on five cases of which three were alveolar rhabdomyosarcomas (RMS), one was embryonal RMS and one was RMS of mixed alveolar and embryonal histology. Three cases of alveolar RMS and one case of embryonal RMS showed t(2;13). A del(1)(p11) in a mixed alveolar and embryonal RMS was observed without the presence of t(2;13). add(17)(q25) was present in one of the alveolar RMS along with a t(2;13). Modal number of chromosome in the five cases ranged from hyperdiploid to hypertetraploid. Clinical, cytological, histopathological and cytogenetic findings are correlated. The role of additional abnormalities is discussed with a review of appropriate literature.