Genetic Flashcards
You diagnose a child with Williams syndrome.
What is the most likely cardiac defect?
Supravalvular aortic stenosis
Explanation
This is the classic cardiac defect in Williams syndrome. It occurs in 45–75% of patients. Know it!
A 4-year-old presents with the following:
History of severe hypotonia at birth
Short stature
Small hands and feet
Hypogonadism
Mild intellectual disability
Obesity
What is the most likely diagnosis?
Prader-Willi syndrome (paternally derived 15q11–13 deletion)
Explanation
Prader-Willi syndrome is most often due to paternally derived microdeletion of 15q11–13. This is in contrast to maternally derived deletion of the same area, which causes Angelman syndrome. Other mechanisms include uniparental disomy and methylation abnormalities.
What is CHARGE syndrome
Answer
Coloboma
Heart defects
Atresia of the choanae
Restricted growth and development
Genital anomalies (hypogonadism)
Ear anomalies and/or deafness
Explanation
CHARGE syndrome results from autosomal dominant mutations in the CHD7 gene on chromosome 8q
What are the clinical findings of achondroplasia?
Answer
Disproportionately short stature with rhizomelic shortening
Lumbar lordosis
“Trident” hands
Macrocephaly
Flat nasal bridge, prominent forehead, and midfacial hypoplasia
Explanation
Note the hands have a “trident” appearance—hands are short and fingers are quite broad, with digits 3 and 4 splayed more distally than proximally. Growth curve at birth is on track, but by 2–3 months of age the length of these children has fallen to < 5th percentile. They do not have other malformations and are of normal intellect.
What is VATER/VACTERL association?
Answer
Vertebral,
Anal atresia,
Cardiac,
Tracheal,
Esophageal,
Renal, and
Limb defects
Explanation
VATER/VACTERL association is a common exam question, so be sure you know what the acronym stands for. Also know that it is an association of findings—not a syndrome
newborn presents with the following:
Brachycephaly
Frontal bossing
Wormian bones (abnormal intrasutural bones)
Hypoplastic/absent clavicles
Joint laxity
What is the most likely diagnosis?b
Cleidocranial dysostosis
Explanation
In addition to these findings, there is delayed eruption of deciduous and permanent teeth. It is common to have supernumerary and fused teeth as well.
A newborn presents with the following:
Mandibular and maxillary hypoplasia
Zygomatic arch clefts
Ear malformations that include microtia on one side and atresia on the other side
Downward-slanting palpebral fissures
Colobomata of the lower eyelids
Conductive hearing loss
What is the most likely diagnosis?
Treacher Collins syndrome (a.k.a. mandibulofacial dysostosis)
Explanation
Treacher Collins syndrome (a.k.a. mandibulofacial dysostosis) is a rare autosomal dominant congenital disorder that affects the development of bones and other tissues of the face. The signs and symptoms of this disorder vary greatly. They range from almost unnoticeable to severe. It is a common exam question and a common choice as a distractor
12-year-old presents with the following:
Hyperextensible skin
Hypermobile joints
Dystrophic scarring
Skin texture is like “wet chamois.”
Wrinkled palms and soles
Mitral valve prolapse and/or proximal aortic dilatation
Easy bruising; coagulation tests (PT, aPTT, bleeding time) are normal except for capillary fragility testing, which is abnormal.
What is the most likely diagnosis?
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
Explanation
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is a group of autosomal dominant connective tissue disorders that include 6 major variants. Joint hypermobility is common but may not appear in all types. Wrinkled palms and soles are common. The skin findings are classic!
newborn presents with a disruptive cleft of her face and palate, as well as apparent amputation of her 4th and 5th digits on her left hand.
What is the likely etiology?
Answer
Amniotic band sequence
Explanation
Amniotic band sequence presents with disruptive clefts of the face and palate resulting from amniotic bands adhering to this area. Bands can also form in other parts of the fetal body. Other defects can include constriction rings of the limbs and/or digits; amputations are common. Most cases are sporadic without a known genetic cause
newborn presents with the following:
Craniosynostosis with brachycephaly
Hypertelorism
Strabismus
Narrow palate (“cathedral ceiling”)
Syndactyly
“Single nails”
Broad thumbs
What is the most likely diagnosis?
Answer
Apert syndrome
Explanation
Apert syndrome is an autosomal dominant disorder with these features. “Single nails” refers to the mitten-hand deformity—common with this disorder—in which 2, 3, or 4 fingers are completely fused with a common nail bed.
Which endocrine disorder should be screened for at 6 and 12 months of age in a child with trisomy 21 (a.k.a. Down syndrome)?
Hypothyroidism
Explanation
After the 1st year of life, annual screening should occur for hypothyroidism. Other concerns include vision issues, hearing loss, celiac disease, atlantoaxial instability, and leukemia. Later in life, patients need to be monitored for Type 2 diabetes, hyperthyroidism, cataracts, seizures, cognitive dysfunction, and dementia or early-onset Alzheimer disease
newborn presents with the following:
Branchial cleft fistulas or cysts
Preauricular pits
Cochlear and stapes malformation
Hearing loss
Renal dysplasia/aplasia
What is the most likely diagnosis?
Branchio-oto-renal (BOR) syndrome
Explanation
BOR syndrome is a condition that disrupts the development of tissues in the neck and causes malformations of the ears and kidneys. Occasionally, patients have pulmonary hypoplasia. It is inherited as an autosomal dominant disorder.
What is the most common cardiac finding in an infant with tuberous sclerosis?
Cardiac rhabdomyomas
Explanation
Cardiac rhabdomyomas are seen in nearly 50% of infants with tuberous sclerosis, but these generally regress over time. They can lead to cardiac outflow obstruction or cardiac arrhythmias.
young child presents with:
Generalized overgrowth
Macroglossia
Ear lobe creases
Posterior auricular pits
History of omphalocele
Cryptorchidism
Hemihypertrophy
Large for gestational age
What is the most likely diagnosis?
Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome
Explanation
Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome is an autosomal dominant disorder with the features listed. Remember: Wilms tumor is likely in these children.
What are the complications associated with achondroplasia.
Answer
Serous otitis media, motor milestone delay, bowing of legs, orthodontic problems
Serious complications of spinal cord compression: apnea, quadriparesis, growth delay, hydrocephalus
Explanation
Foramen magnum stenosis and/or craniocervical junction abnormalities can occur in infancy and cause compression of the upper cord, resulting in the serious complications listed above. Most males have final heights of 46–57 inches and females of 44–54 inches. Adults are at risk for obesity and spinal stenosis.
pedigree has the following characteristics:
Only females can transmit the disease to their sons; there is never male-to-male transmission.
If a generation has only females, the disease will appear to “skip” that generation.
An affected father transmits the disease allele to all of his daughters (the daughters are obligate carriers) but they are typically unaffected.
What is the most likely classic Mendelian inheritance pattern?
X-linked recessive
Explanation
X-linked recessive disorders generally affect males only; hemophilia A, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and Becker muscular dystrophy are classic examples. Some female carriers of X-linked diseases may be affected depending on X-inactivation.
newborn presents with the following:
Soft skull
Short, bowed limbs
X-rays of long bones show a “crumpled appearance.”
Ribs are beaded with callus formation.
Multiple fractures
What is the most likely diagnosis
Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) Type 2
Explanation
OI Type 2 (perinatally lethal OI) is the most severe form and results in death during the newborn period due to respiratory insufficiency. Unlike in OI Type 1, fractures occur very early in Type 2, with reports of in utero fractures. Almost all cases are due to de novo autosomal dominant mutation of the COL1A1 gene, which disrupts Type 1 collagen formation.
A 15-year-old presents with current findings or history of the following:
Ectopia lentis (dislocated lens)
Aortic dilation found on echo
High-arched palate
Pectus carinatum
Mitral valve prolapse
Normal IQ
What is the most likely diagnosis?
Marfan syndrome
Explanation
Marfan syndrome is an autosomal dominant disorder that affects 1/5,000 to 1/10,000 individuals, occurring equally in boys and girls. Be sure you can differentiate Marfan syndrome—normal IQ and upward lens dislocation—from homocystinuria—lower IQ and downward lens dislocation. The Ghent criteria provide a framework for clinical diagnosi
A newborn presents with the following:
Midline cleft lip
Microphthalmia
Postaxial polydactyly of the limbs
Holoprosencephaly
Absent ribs
Aplasia cutis congenita
What is the most likely diagnosis?
Trisomy 13 (Patau syndrome)
Explanation
Trisomy 13 (Patau syndrome) is the 3rd most common autosomal trisomy and occurs in ~ 1/20,000–1/25,000 live births. Median survival is 2.5 days. Think midline defects for this trisomy!
A newborn presents with the following:
Glossoptosis (downward displacement of the tongue)
Micrognathia
Cleft palate
Respiratory distress
Feeding difficulties
What is the likely diagnosis?
Pierre Robin sequence
Explanation
Pierre Robin sequence presents with a primary embryologic defect of the mandible, which leads to displacement of the tongue, interrupted closure of the lateral palatine ridges, and a U-shaped cleft palate. These children have small jaws, hence their tongues commonly appear to be too large for their mouths.