Editorial
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World J Med Genet. Nov 27, 2013; 3(4): 14-21
Published online Nov 27, 2013. doi: 10.5496/wjmg.v3.i4.14
Genomic microarrays in prenatal diagnosis
Fortunato Lonardo
Fortunato Lonardo, Medical Cytogenetics and Molecular Genetics Unit, Medical Genetics Complex Unit, AORN “G. Rummo”, I-82100 Benevento, Italy
Author contributions: Lonardo F solely contributed to this paper.
Correspondence to: Dr. Fortunato Lonardo, Medical Cytogenetics and Molecular Genetics Unit, Medical Genetics Complex Unit, AORN “G. Rummo”, Via dell’Angelo n° 1, I-82100 Benevento, Italy. fortunato.lonardo@ao-rummo.it
Telephone: +39-824-57335 Fax: +39-824-57335
Received: May 8, 2013
Revised: July 20, 2013
Accepted: August 8, 2013
Published online: November 27, 2013
Processing time: 222 Days and 10.9 Hours
Core Tip

Core tip: Given its advantages over conventional karyotyping, there is an increasing interest in determining whether microarray technology will be similarly advantageous for the detection of fetal genomic imbalances in a prenatal setting. Several issues remain to be addressed, such as for which pregnancies comparative genomic hybridization-based arrays should be carried out (i.e., whether for all pregnancies or only for those with ultrasound abnormalities). Another area of uncertainty is the choice of array platform. This article aims to contribute to the discussions on genomic microarrays in prenatal diagnosis by examining the literature and existing guidelines, and giving an opinion on possible future developments and on how best to handle them.