OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the value of a panel fluorescence in situ hybridization 
(FISH) in the detection of common chromosome abnormalities in myelodysplastic 
syndrome (MDS).
METHODS: Twenty cases of MDS patients, whose karyotypes were unknown by the FISH 
examiner beforehand, were analyzed with a panel FISH using YAC248F5 (5q31), 
YAC938G5 (7q32), CEP8 and YAC 912C3 (20q12) probes to detect the frequently 
occurring chromosome abnormalities (-5/5q, -/7q-, +8, 20q-) in MDS. Then the 
results were compared to those of conventional cytogenetics (CC).
RESULTS: Among 20 cases, 13 cases were found to carry common chromosome 
abnormalities by panel FISH (trisomy 8, five cases; -5/5q-, one case; 20q-, five 
cases; 5q- accompanying 20q-, one case; complex abnormalities, one case). 
However, on CC examination, only five cases were found to have common 
chromosomal abnormalities (20q-, four cases; 5q- accompanying 20q-, one case). 
In addition, trisomy 21, marker chromosome and complex abnormalities comprising 
-5, -7 and marker chromosomes were seen in one case each, the rest were normal.
CONCLUSION: Panel FISH is a useful tool of molecular cytogenetics in the 
detection of common chromosome abnormalities in MDS.