Characterization of 7q--by FISH technique of a case with acute myelogenous leukemia evolving from agnogenic myeloid...

We present a new case of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) which evolved from agnogenic myeloid metaplasia (AMM). Routine cytogenetic techniques revealed a terminal deletion of one chromosome 7 (del (7) (q21)). When metaphases were hybridized with the 7q specific telomeric probe, a signal was detected at the distal q arm of the deleted chromosome 7 suggesting an interstitial deletion and the cytogenetic diagnosis was changed to 46,XY, del(7) (q21.1q36.2). Apparently, precise characterization of such deletions may have gone undetected, owing to the lack of technology, and deletions that have been previously regarded as terminal may very well be interstitial. Undoubtedly, precise identification of genetic abnormalities may lead to a better classification which may help to assign patients into sub-subgroups within the specific chromosomal abnormalities to initiate better therapeutic modalities and decisions.