Introduction:

Leukemia is defined as a clonal process of hematopoietic cells, which occurs when blood cells that are produced in the bone marrow change and multiply uncontrollably. This is characterized by its genetic heterogeneity and is explained through mechanisms caused by chromosomal alterations that are used in daily clinical practice as useful biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis or prediction of response to treatment.

Objective:

To describe the conventional and molecular cytogenetic techniques used for the diagnosis and monitoring of leukemias.

Methods:

A review of the literature in English and in Spanish was carried out, in the PubMed website and using the search engine Google, for articles published in the last five years. We performed analysis and summary of the reviewed bibliography.

Analysis and synthesis of information:

Cytogenetics over the years has provided crucial information for the diagnosis and prognosis of hematologic malignancies. Both conventional and molecular cytogenetic techniques such as fluorescent in situ hybridization, multicolor fluorescent in situ hybridization, spectral karyotype, comparative genomic hybridization and microarrays, participate in the recognition of chromosomal and gene alterations, as well as interactions involved in the oncogenesis process.

Conclusions:

These cytogenetic techniques contribute to the diagnosis, prognostic stratification and application of treatment according to the type or subtype of leukemia.

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