title: Otocephaly.
abstract: Otocephaly is a rare lethal syndrome of microstomia, aglossia, agnathia, and synotia. This male infant was born to a 19-year-old, gravida 1, para 0, woman who received routine prenatal check-up. Polyhydramnios, low-lying ears, and proboscis were noted by sonography at 29 weeks of gestation. Amniocentesis showed a normal karyotype of 46, XY. Premature rupture of membranes and preterm labor were noted at 32 weeks of gestation. A male infant was delivered preterm and died shortly after birth. The infant showed midline proboscis and absence of mandible. The simple, soft ears were extremely low-set and were near the midline of the neck. Otocephaly is regarded as the most severe form of first arch anomalies. Prenatal diagnosis should be dependent on ultrasound analysis. In the face of polyhydramnios, otocephaly is one of the possible fetal anomalies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tri-service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Kwei-Shuai
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Dah-Ching
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Yin-Kwan
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Wei-Hwa
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Tang-Yuan
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Chu
mesh_terms: D000015:Abnormalities, Multiple / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D000328:Adult; D004423:Ear / Q000002:abnormalities; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008865:Microstomia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011247:Pregnancy; D013577:Syndrome; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal