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FISH test is "inconclusive" - what's that mean?
My FISH studies were 'inconclusive', what does that mean then?
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jet - Name: nzgirl
- Who do you know with myeloma?: me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: september 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 55
Re: FISH test is "inconclusive" - what's that mean?
Hi Jet,
Your inconclusive FISH results may be the result of not having enough multiple myeloma cells in the bone marrow sample to conduct a reliable FISH study. If you read carefully through the entire pathology report, the pathologist may give the reason why the test was inconclusive.
This can sometimes happen because the multiple myeloma cells are not spread evenly throughout one's bone marrow. So, when they do the bone marrow biopsy, they can sometimes hit a "dry spot" that may have too few myeloma cells to run a reliable FISH test.
Did you have an earlier biopsy where you can look at those results?
Your inconclusive FISH results may be the result of not having enough multiple myeloma cells in the bone marrow sample to conduct a reliable FISH study. If you read carefully through the entire pathology report, the pathologist may give the reason why the test was inconclusive.
This can sometimes happen because the multiple myeloma cells are not spread evenly throughout one's bone marrow. So, when they do the bone marrow biopsy, they can sometimes hit a "dry spot" that may have too few myeloma cells to run a reliable FISH test.
Did you have an earlier biopsy where you can look at those results?
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Multibilly - Name: Multibilly
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Smoldering, Nov, 2012
Re: FISH test is "inconclusive" - what's that mean?
Hi Multibilly,
"Bone marrow examination showed 89% plasma cells, with a normal female karyotype."
I can't see anything about the reason for FISH studies being inconclusive.
Thanks
"Bone marrow examination showed 89% plasma cells, with a normal female karyotype."
I can't see anything about the reason for FISH studies being inconclusive.
Thanks
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jet - Name: nzgirl
- Who do you know with myeloma?: me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: september 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 55
Re: FISH test is "inconclusive" - what's that mean?
Hi Jet,With 89% plasma cell content, you would think that there would be a pretty decent sample to work with for FISH studies. But it looks like Kully had a similar problem with their test:"Incomplete results on initial bone marrow biopsy," forum disc. started Jan 27, 2015As part of metaphase cytogenetic testing (as opposed to interphase FISH), the cells in your bone marrow sample are induced to divide until they reach what is known as their "metaphase" state. This is a state during cellular division when all when the chromosomes nicely line up in the cell, and therefore makes it a lot easier for the pathologist to distinguish the individual chromosomes in the cells. I'm guessing that the cells in your sample might also have been uncooperative in going through this process. But this is purely a wild ass guess on my part.You may have seen all this in a high school biology class, but below is a quick video on cell division (metaphase occurs at about 1:00 minute into the video).You might discuss getting re-retested if it is unclear just what your current cytogenetics are.
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Multibilly - Name: Multibilly
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Smoldering, Nov, 2012
Re: FISH test is "inconclusive" - what's that mean?
Multibilly, thanks for all that. I have had a good read around. 
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jet - Name: nzgirl
- Who do you know with myeloma?: me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: september 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 55
Re: FISH test is "inconclusive" - what's that mean?
Hi,
My Dad also has experienced a similar problem, sort of. He has had two BMBs. Although both biopsies showed some plasma cells involvements, the first FISH indicated that he is high risk with 17p del, while the second FISH (just before transplant) indicated that he is low risk (they found zero anomalies from 200 nuclei sampling).
Dad refused another BMB.
Although, I've read somewhere that there are actually rare cases where 17p del has mutated into "normal" cells, which is another topic of its own.
My Dad also has experienced a similar problem, sort of. He has had two BMBs. Although both biopsies showed some plasma cells involvements, the first FISH indicated that he is high risk with 17p del, while the second FISH (just before transplant) indicated that he is low risk (they found zero anomalies from 200 nuclei sampling).
Dad refused another BMB.
Although, I've read somewhere that there are actually rare cases where 17p del has mutated into "normal" cells, which is another topic of its own.
6 posts
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