[Molecular methods in the diagnosis of sarcoma]

The use of modern molecular techniques has gained importance in the diagnosis of sarcomas in recent years. Each of the analytical methods discussed here has its unique advantages and specific requirements. Cytogenetic screening methods which provide genome-wide information depend on the availability of fresh tissue. With the aid of fluorescence in situ hybridization and RT-polymerase chain reaction, specific events such as translocations in Ewing sarcoma, synovial sarcoma or alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, as well as gene amplifications in well-differentiated and dedifferentiated liposarcoma or radiation-induced angiosarcoma and deletions in rhabdoid tumors or well-differentiated spindle cell liposarcoma can be detected in fresh and formalin fixed tissues. Molecular methods including Sanger sequencing, pyrosequencing and high resolution melting provide information about specific molecular aberrations on gene level. Here we review the most important molecular techniques currently used in sarcoma diagnosis, describe their relevance for differential diagnosis and point out specific examples.