Sex chromosome determination in extragonadal teratomas by interphase cytogenetics: clues to histogenesis

Teratomas are neoplasms that are composed of tissues from all three germinal layers. The exact histogenetic origin of teratomas, however, is still controversial. In order to gain more insight into histogenesis of extragonadal teratomas (EGTs), the gonosomal status in 13 congenital EGTs was studied by means of interphase cytogenetics using nonradioactive in situ hybridization (NISH) with centromere-specific DNA probes. By use of this technique a direct correlation of cytogenetic results with morphology was possible. In all EGTs analyzed the gonosomal status in tissues derived from the different germinal layers was identical to that of the nontumorous fetal and placental tissue. This was true irrespective of localization, age, histological type, and classification of the EGT. Our results strongly suggest that EGTs arise from pluripotent diploid precursor cells, for example, either premeiotic germ cells that have not yet undergone the first meiotic division or pluripotent ectopic embryonal or extraembryonal cells. Our data do not support the theory of parthenogenetic EGT development, at least in males.