Premature centromere division: a possible manifestation of chromosome instability.

Retrospective analysis of "routine" chromosome preparations from 2 patients with Fanconi anemia and 2 others with ataxia-teleangiectasia showed increased chromosome breakage and a tendency to premature centromere division (PCD) with special reference to early separation of the large acrocentric (13-15) chromosomes. The findings suggest that PCD may be a manifestation of chromosome instability related to potential malignancy.