Additional dark G-band in the p-arm of chromosome 19 due to a paracentric inversion with a breakpoint in the pericentromeric heterochromatin

Paracentric inversions in chromosome 19 have rarely been described. Here we present an inv(19)(p11p13.1) with a breakpoint in the pericentromeric heterochromatin which leads to an additional dark G-band in the p-arm of chromosome 19. The rearranged chromosome segregated in two generations of a family without any phenotypic effects. A detailed characterization of the inv(19) by molecular cytogenetic techniques is presented. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.