CYTOGENETICS AND THE SURGEON - AN INVALUABLE TOOL IN DIAGNOSIS, PROGNOSIS AND COUNSELING OF PATIENTS WITH SOLID TUMORS

Background Cytogenetic studies have become an important part of tumour characterization. In a minority of rumours cytogenetic and/or molecul ar studies may be of help for diagnosis, selection of treatment protoc ols and predicting outcome. Methods This article reviews the literatur e on solid tumour translocations and established family cancer syndrom es. In addition, the potential importance of genetics in management of patients with breast, ovarian and pancreatic carcinoma is reviewed. R esults and conclusion Cytogenetic analysis of tumours may help confirm the diagnosis when conventional histology demonstrates no evidence of differentiation along a particular tissue pathway. For patients with well defined cancer syndromes, cytogenetic and molecular analysis offe rs the prospect of screening to reduce the risk of malignant disease. For many malignancies the underlying genetic anomalies are gradually b eing elucidated. Further studies designed to demonstrate the significa nce of these findings can only be undertaken if tumour material is col lected and stored in optimal conditions for cytogenetic and/or molecul ar biological studies.