Isolated frontosphenoidal craniosynostosis: An argument for genetic testing.

Isolated frontosphenoidal craniosynostosis (IFSC) is a rare congenital defect defined as premature fusion of the frontosphenoidal suture in the absence of other suture fusion. Until now, IFSC was regarded as a phenomenon with an unclear genetic etiology. We have identified three cases with IFSC with underlying syndromic diagnoses that were attributable to pathogenic mutations involving FGFR3 and MN1, as well as 22q11.

Damaging variants in FOXI3 cause microtia and craniofacial microsomia.

Purpose: Craniofacial microsomia (CFM) represents a spectrum of craniofacial malformations, ranging from isolated microtia with or without aural atresia to underdevelopment of the mandible, maxilla, orbit, facial soft tissue, and/or facial nerve. The genetic causes of CFM remain largely unknown.

Methods: We performed genome sequencing and linkage analysis in patients and families with microtia and CFM of unknown genetic etiology.

Haploinsufficiency of SF3B2 causes craniofacial microsomia.

Craniofacial microsomia (CFM) is the second most common congenital facial anomaly, yet its genetic etiology remains unknown. We perform whole-exome or genome sequencing of 146 kindreds with sporadic (n = 138) or familial (n = 8) CFM, identifying a highly significant burden of loss of function variants in SF3B2 (P = 3.8 × 10), a component of the U2 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein complex, in probands.

Cleft palate morphology, genetic etiology, and risk of mortality in infants with Robin sequence.

Robin sequence (RS) has many genetic and nongenetic causes, including isolated Robin sequence (iRS), Stickler syndrome (SS), and other syndromes (SyndRS). The purpose of this study was to determine if the presence and type of cleft palate varies between etiologic groups. A secondary endpoint was to determine the relationship of etiologic group, cleft type, and mortality.

Targeted long-read sequencing identifies missing disease-causing variation.

Despite widespread clinical genetic testing, many individuals with suspected genetic conditions lack a precise diagnosis, limiting their opportunity to take advantage of state-of-the-art treatments. In some cases, testing reveals difficult-to-evaluate structural differences, candidate variants that do not fully explain the phenotype, single pathogenic variants in recessive disorders, or no variants in genes of interest. Thus, there is a need for better tools to identify a precise genetic diagnosis in individuals when conventional testing approaches have been exhausted.

Mutations in the Epithelial Cadherin-p120-Catenin Complex Cause Mendelian Non-Syndromic Cleft Lip with or without Cleft Palate.

Non-syndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (NS-CL/P) is one of the most common human birth defects and is generally considered a complex trait. Despite numerous loci identified by genome-wide association studies, the effect sizes of common variants are relatively small, with much of the presumed genetic contribution remaining elusive. We report exome-sequencing results in 209 people from 72 multi-affected families with pedigree structures consistent with autosomal-dominant inheritance and variable penetrance.

Novel findings of left ventricular non-compaction cardiomyopathy, microform cleft lip and poor vision in patient with SMC1A-associated Cornelia de Lange syndrome.

Relatively few patients with Cornelia de Lange syndrome (CdLS) due to SMC1A mutation have been reported, limiting understanding of the full extent of the phenotype. Compared to children with classic NIPBL-associated CdLS, patients with SMC1A-associated CdLS have a milder physical phenotype with prominent intellectual disability, high rate of cleft palate and absence of limb reductions. We present a patient with SMC1A-associated CdLS who had typical features including developmental delay, seizure disorder, feeding difficulties, hirsutism, and cleft palate.

Characterizing facial features in individuals with craniofacial microsomia: A systematic approach for clinical research.

Background: Craniofacial microsomia (CFM) is a congenital condition with wide phenotypic variability, including hypoplasia of the mandible and external ear. We assembled a cohort of children with facial features within the CFM spectrum and children without known craniofacial anomalies. We sought to develop a standardized approach to assess and describe the facial characteristics of the study cohort, using multiple sources of information gathered over the course of this longitudinal study and to create case subgroups with shared phenotypic features.

Clinical characteristics and surgical decision making for infants with metopic craniosynostosis in conjunction with other congenital anomalies.

Background: Metopic craniosynostosis can occur in isolation or in conjunction with other congenital anomalies. The surgical decision making and outcomes between these 2 groups are analyzed.

Methods: A retrospective review of all children evaluated in the craniofacial clinic at Seattle Children's Hospital for metopic craniosynostosis between 2004 and 2009 was performed.

Exome sequencing identifies a recurrent de novo ZSWIM6 mutation associated with acromelic frontonasal dysostosis.

Acromelic frontonasal dysostosis (AFND) is a rare disorder characterized by distinct craniofacial, brain, and limb malformations, including frontonasal dysplasia, interhemispheric lipoma, agenesis of the corpus callosum, tibial hemimelia, preaxial polydactyly of the feet, and intellectual disability. Exome sequencing of one trio and two unrelated probands revealed the same heterozygous variant (c.3487C>T [p.

Oculoauriculofrontonasal syndrome: case series revealing new bony nasal anomalies in an old syndrome.

Frontonasal Dysplasia (FND) and Oculo-auriculo-vertebral spectrum (OAVS) are two well-recognized clinical entities. With features of both FND and OAVS, the term oculoauriculofrontonasal syndrome (OAFNS) was coined in 1981. The OAFNS phenotype combines elements of abnormal morphogenesis of the frontonasal and maxillary process (derived from forebrain neural crest) with abnormal development of the first and second branchial arches (derived from hindbrain neural crest).

Making the diagnosis: metopic ridge versus metopic craniosynostosis.

Introduction: The metopic suture is the only calvarial suture which normally closes during infancy. Upon closure, a palpable and visible ridge often forms which can be confused with metopic craniosynostosis. Metopic ridging (MR) is treated nonsurgically while metopic craniosynostosis (MCS) is treated surgically.

"Mandibulofacial dysostosis with microcephaly" caused by EFTUD2 mutations: expanding the phenotype.

Heterozygous mutations in the EFTUD2 were identified in 12 individuals with a rare sporadic craniofacial condition termed Mandibulofacial dysostosis with microcephaly (MIM 610536). We present clinical and radiographic features of three additional patients with de novo heterozygous mutations in EFTUD2. Although clinical features overlap with findings of the original report (choanal atresia, cleft palate, maxillary and mandibular hypoplasia, and microtia), microcephaly was present in two of three patients and cognitive impairment was milder in those with head circumference proportional to height.

Evaluation of ICD-9-CM codes for craniofacial microsomia.

Background: Craniofacial microsomia (CFM) is a congenital condition characterized by microtia and mandibular underdevelopment. Healthcare databases and birth defects surveillance programs could be used to improve knowledge of CFM. However, no specific International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) code exists for this condition, which makes standardized data collection challenging.

New developments in genetic diagnosis: implications for the craniofacial surgeon.

Craniofacial anomalies comprise a frequent cause of birth defects requiring surgical treatment. A subset of children with craniofacial anomalies will have additional birth defects, developmental delays, or recognizable genetic syndromes. Genetic consultation should be offered to the families of children in this subgroup.

Microtia: epidemiology and genetics.

Microtia is a congenital anomaly of the ear that ranges in severity from mild structural abnormalities to complete absence of the ear, and can occur as an isolated birth defect or as part of a spectrum of anomalies or a syndrome. Microtia is often associated with hearing loss and patients typically require treatment for hearing impairment and surgical ear reconstruction. The reported prevalence varies among regions, from 0.

Bathrocephaly: a head shape associated with a persistent mendosal suture.

Bathrocephaly, a deformity of the posterior skull with bulging of the midportion of the occipital bone, is often associated with a benign variant of the mendosal suture ( Mulliken and Le, 2008 ). The endochondral and membranous portions of the occipital bone converge at the mendosal suture, which normally closes during fetal life or early infancy. When it persists, it is associated with a characteristic head shape that requires no intervention.

Robin sequence: from diagnosis to development of an effective management plan.

The triad of micrognathia, glossoptosis, and resultant airway obstruction is known as Robin sequence (RS). Although RS is a well-recognized clinical entity, there is wide variability in the diagnosis and care of children born with RS. Systematic evaluations of treatments and clinical outcomes for children with RS are lacking despite the advances in clinical care over the past 20 years.

IGF1R variants associated with isolated single suture craniosynostosis.

The genetic contribution to the pathogenesis of isolated single suture craniosynostosis is poorly understood. The role of mutations in genes known to be associated with syndromic synostosis appears to be limited. We present our findings of a candidate gene resequencing approach to identify rare variants associated with the most common forms of isolated craniosynostosis.

Recurrent 200-kb deletions of 16p11.2 that include the SH2B1 gene are associated with developmental delay and obesity.

Purpose: The short arm of chromosome 16 is rich in segmental duplications, predisposing this region of the genome to a number of recurrent rearrangements. Genomic imbalances of an approximately 600-kb region in 16p11.2 (29.

Copy number variation analysis in single-suture craniosynostosis: multiple rare variants including RUNX2 duplication in two cousins with metopic craniosynostosis.

Little is known about genes that underlie isolated single-suture craniosynostosis. In this study, we hypothesize that rare copy number variants (CNV) in patients with isolated single-suture craniosynostosis contain genes important for cranial development. Using whole genome array comparative genomic hybridization (CGH), we evaluated DNA from 186 individuals with single-suture craniosynostosis for submicroscopic deletions and duplications.