title: Schinzel-Giedion syndrome: report of splenopancreatic fusion and proposed diagnostic criteria.
abstract: We report on the 46th patient with Schinzel-Giedion syndrome (SGS) and the first observation of splenopancreatic fusion in this syndrome. In the antenatal period, a male fetus was found to have bilateral hydronephrosis. Postnatally, in keeping with a diagnosis of SGS, there were large fontanelles, ocular hypertelorism, a wide, broad forehead, midface retraction, a short, upturned nose, macroglossia, and a short neck. Other anomalies included cardiac defects, widened and dense long bone cortices, cerebral ventriculomegaly, and abnormal fundi. Splenopancreatic fusion, usually encountered in trisomy 13, was found on autopsy. Schinzel-Giedion syndrome is likely a monogenic condition for which neither the heritability pattern nor pathogenesis has yet been determined. A clinical diagnosis may be made by identifying the facial phenotype, including prominent forehead, midface retraction, and short, upturned nose, plus one of either of the two other major distinguishing features: typical skeletal abnormalities or hydronephrosis. Typical skeletal anomalies include a sclerotic skull base, wide supraoccipital-exoccipital synchondrosis, increased cortical density or thickness, and broad ribs. Other highly supportive features include neuroepithelial tumors (found in 17%), hypertrichosis, and brain abnormalities. Severe developmental delay and poor survival are constant features in reported patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Anna M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Lehman
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: McFadden
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pugash
authors.forename: Karan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sangha
authors.forename: William T
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Gibson
authors.forename: Millan S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Patel
mesh_terms: D000015:Abnormalities, Multiple / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D001344:Autopsy; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000002:abnormalities; D019465:Craniofacial Abnormalities / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006869:Hydronephrosis / Q000151:congenital / Q000175:diagnosis*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D010179:Pancreas / Q000002:abnormalities*; D013154:Spleen / Q000002:abnormalities*; D013577:Syndrome