A t(16;21)(q24;q22) translocation was detected by fluorescence in situ
hybridization in a patient with acute myeloblastic leukemia previousl
y treated for malignant lymphoma. While the breakpoint on chromosome 2
1 was within the AML1 gene as determined by FISH, the gene partner on
chromosome 16 could not be identified. Band 16q24 appears to be rearra
nged in several types of myeloid proliferation and a review of the lit
erature shows that these rearrangements most often occur in secondary
leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome or are part of complex chromosom
al rearrangements.