Prenatal detection of trisomy 18 caused by isochromosome 18p and 18q formation.

We report on the prenatal detection and further genetic studies in a case of trisomy 18 caused by isochromosome 18p [i(18p)] and 18q [i(18q)] formation. The diagnosis was made by standard cytogenetic techniques in amniotic fluid cells and confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridization. The formation of the isochromosomes cannot be explained by a single model; centromere misdivision and meiosis II nondisjunction without recombination or mitotic misdivision are the most likely mechanisms of formation as indicated by DNA analysis.