RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate sex chromosome aneuploidies in patients with Turner's syndrome using two cytogenetic techniques. STUDY DESIGN: A sample of 35 women with a clinical suspicion of Turner syndrome was examined in the Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Monterrey, Mexico. They were subjected to a conventional cytogenetic technique with G-banding and to fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using a specific alpha satellite X chromosome (DXZ1) and specific alpha satellite Y chromosome (DYZ1). RESULTS: Using both techniques, 17 cases (48.57%) showed the same karyotype. Using FISH: (1) in 8 cases the presence of the Y chromosome was confirmed, (2) in 18 cases (51.43%) a new cell line was identified, (3) in 2 cases (5.71%) the derivative X was clarified, and (4) in 3 cases (8.57%) the origin of the chromosome markers (1 of X chromosome and 2 of Y chromosome) was delineated. FISH highlighted the differences between the initial diagnosis, based on G-banding, and the final diagnosis, determined by specific probes for the X and Y chromosomes. CONCLUSION: FISH is a useful tool in the detection of low-frequency cell lines and identification of the nature and origin of derivative chromosomes and unknown chromosome markers that have important implications for the treatment of patients with Turner's syndrome.