Cryptic IGH/BCL2 rearrangements with variant FISH patterns in follicular lymphoma

Leuk Res. 2011 Feb;35(2):256-9. doi: 10.1016/j.leukres.2010.09.011. Epub 2010 Oct 16.

Abstract

Follicular lymphoma (FL) is one of the most common non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL). Translocation t(14;18)(q32;q21) involving IGH and BCL2 genes represents its genetic hallmark. We present six cases of a series of 75 well diagnosed FL patients in which variant fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) patterns for this rearrangement were found. Moreover, G-banding cytogenetics and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods were unable to detect t(14;18)(q32;q21). According to our results, FISH is the best technique to define variant rearrangements of IGH/BCL2 genes and is important to detect it in cases with non-conclusive FL characteristics to avoid misdiagnosis with other NHL.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Chromosome Aberrations
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 14 / genetics
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 18 / genetics
  • Genes, Immunoglobulin Heavy Chain / genetics*
  • Genes, bcl-2 / genetics*
  • Humans
  • In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence
  • Lymphoma, Follicular / genetics*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Translocation, Genetic / genetics*