Detection of N-myc Amplification in Neuroblastomas Using Southern Blotting on Fine Needle Aspirates

Abstract

To verify the possibility of detecting N-myc amplification in fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology from neuroblastomas by the Southern blotting technique. Fifteen neuroblastomas diagnosed by FNA in the Department of Pathology, Hospital de S. João, between 1990 and 1998, were studied for N-myc amplification using the Southern blotting technique in cytologic and histologic material. DNA extraction from the cytologic material was performed in all cases (N = 15). In two cases the quality/quantity of the DNA did not allow the study of N-myc status by the Southern blotting technique. We detected N-myc amplification in 1 of 13 patients (7.6%) from whom material was available for genetic study. It is possible to use the Southern blotting technique to demonstrate N-myc amplification in material obtained from FNA of neuroblastomas.