Cryptic t(X;18), ins(6;18), and SYT-SSX2 gene fusion in a case of intraneural monophasic synovial sarcoma

A 54-year-old male presented with a spontaneous peroneal nerve palsy and a diagnosis of monophasic synovial sarcoma (SS) was rendered by histologic examination. Cytogenetic analysis revealed a complex abnormal karyotype without evidence of the typical t(X;18)(p11;q11) associated with SS. Subsequent reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction analysis showed the presence of an SYT/SSX2 fusion transcript, confirming the presence of a cyptic t(X;18). In light of -X, -18 and marker chromosomes evident in the G-band karyotype, it was suspected that a cryptic chromosomal rearrangement involving the marker chromosomes would harbor an X; 18 fusion. Multi-colored karytotyping (M-FISH) revealed a previously unrecognized t(X; 18) and t(5; 19) in the marker chromosomes as well as unrecognized ins(6; 18) and t(16; 20). The addition of M-FISH analysis in this case led to the identification of complex inter-chromosomal rearrangements, thus providing an accurate karyotype. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.