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Updated: Jul 13, 2026

Detection of Viral RNA by Fluorescence in situ Hybridization (FISH)
Published on: May 5, 2012
Fluorescence in situ hybridization in diagnostic cytology
Kevin C Halling1, Benjamin R Kipp
1Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. halling.kevin@mayo.edu
Abstract:
Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is a technique that uses fluorescently labeled DNA probes to detect chromosomal alterations in cells. FISH can detect various types of cytogenetic alterations including aneusomy (ie, abnormalities of chromosome copy number), duplication, amplification, deletion, and translocation. Because tumor cells generally contain chromosomal alterations, FISH is able to detect cells that have chromosomal abnormalities consistent with neoplasia in exfoliative and aspiration cytology specimens. This review will discuss the utility of FISH for the detection of bladder, lung, pancreatobiliary, and esophageal carcinoma in cytologic specimens.
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