Chapter 26 – Cytogenetics of bone tumors

The presence or absence of specific cytogenetic rearrangements has been routinely used to classify hematological neoplastic disorders, as well as to provide management guidance, and to predict the outcome of these hematological disorders. Compared to hematological neoplastic disorders, the cytogenetic data of bone tumors is limited. This is due in part to the fact that bone tumors are extremely rare; they represent only 0.2% of all human malignancies, and it is more challenging to perform a chromosome analysis of a bone tumor. Also, it is extremely difficult, sometimes impossible, to analyze intratumoral karyotypic heterogeneity in bone tumors. Here, we intend to provide the current status of the cytogenetic aspects of bone tumors.