Genetics for the diagnosis and treatment of mesenchymal tumors.

Cytogenetics and molecular genetics play an important role in the diagnosis of soft tissue and bone mesenchymal tumors. This update focuses on cytogenetic and molecular genetic techniques commonly used for evaluation of mesenchymal tumors, including karyotyping, fluorescent in situ hybridization, and polymerase chain reaction. Examples of different techniques, inherent technical problems, and interpretation of the results are discussed. Additionally, limitations related to the type of material available for genotyping (fresh, frozen, or formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue) are covered. Cytogenetic and molecular genetic alterations identified in various mesenchymal tumors are often valuable for diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment strategies.