Fluorescent in situ hybridisation (FISH) is a complementary cytogenetic method 
which has an important role in discovering unsolved cases of mental retardation 
and multiple anomalies. The ability of this method to detect complex and cryptic 
chromosomal rearrangements exceeds the resolution of the usual cytogenetic 
banding techniques; therefore it has a wide implementation in modern cytogenetic 
laboratories - in routine work, as well as for research purposes. We analysed 19 
patients with microdeletion syndromes - 9 patients with Williams syndrome, 4 
patients with Prader-Willi syndrome, and 6 patients with DiGeorge syndrome. On 
the basis of evaluation of facial dysmorphism and the presence of specific major 
anomalies, all the patients met the criteria for the diagnosis of the syndrome. 
FISH studies were performed, confirming the suspected syndrome in patients.