Cytogenetic instability, predominantly involving chromosome 1, is characteristic of elastofibroma

Elastofibroma, an unusual pseudotumor composed of excessive collagen and ab normal elastic fibers, has rarely been subjected to cytogenetic analysis. O nly two cases have been previously defined, both of which demonstrated nonc lonal abnormalities. In the present study, three cases of elastofibroma wer e cytogenetically analyzed. Abnormalities of the short arm of chromosome 1 were seen in all three cases (either clonally or as the most frequently inv olved region among nonclonal aberrations). In addition, a translocation inv olving chromosomes 8 and 12 was detected as a clonal rearrangement in one o f the three cases. The observation of clonal abnormalities in elastofibroma suggests that this lesion may represent a neoplastic rather than a reactiv e process. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.