Premature centromere division: A possible manifestation of chromosome instability

Abstract
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 aero‐centric (13–15) chromosomes. The findings suggest that PCD may be a manifestation of chromosome instability related to potential malignancy.