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Published on: August 7, 2019
Cytogenetic evaluation of neuroblastoma using fine needle aspiration cultures
G Moorthy1, Sandeep Agarwala, Arundhati Sharma
1Department of Pediatric Surgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, 110029, India.
Purpose:
Open surgical biopsies of the primary tumor and bone marrow sampling in metastatic disease are the major sources of tumor material for genetic studies in neuroblastoma. The possibility of using cultures of material procured through Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) for upfront cytogenetic studies of neuroblastomas is studied.
Methods:
From January 2006 to April 2008, 18 patients were diagnosed as neuroblastoma on fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). FNA material was cultured and processed to obtain metaphases and chromosomal analysis was performed. Minimum of five selected metaphases were analyzed and changes were documented.
Results:
The diagnosis of neuroblastoma was confirmed by FNAC in all. Among the 18 cases, 9 cases (50%) showed metaphases on cultures. Four cultures did not grow and five cultures got contaminated. Out of the nine cases that showed metaphases, four cases showed cytogenetic abnormalities. Near triploidy and Double minutes (Dmins) were seen in one case and tetraploidy in another case. 1q gain and 2q gain were observed respectively in third and fourth cases.
Conclusion:
FNA provides viable single cell suspension suitable for cultures. This may be a good alternative strategy to acquire material for cytogenetic studies in neuroblastoma.
