Cohort study of Gorlin syndrome with emphasis on standardised phenotyping and quality of life assessment.
BACKGROUND
Gorlin syndrome (nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome) is a rare genetic predisposition to basal cell carcinomas (BCC), keratocysts of the jaw and calcification of the falx cerebri among other clinical features. With the advent of sonic hedgehog inhibitors for the treatment of BCC, it is timely to establish a cohort of individuals with Gorlin syndrome and collect standardised phenotypic information on these individuals. Moreover, the health-related quality of life (QoL) in individuals with Gorlin syndrome is not well studied.


OBJECTIVE
To establish a Victorian cohort of Gorlin syndrome and study the QoL in these individuals.


METHODS
Phenotypic data were obtained by reviewing medical records of individuals attending two major tertiary/quaternary genetic referral centres in Victoria, followed by telephone or face-to-face interviews where possible. QoL information was obtained utilising the AQoL-6D quality of life survey form.


RESULTS
The median number of BCC in the 19 individuals studied was 17.5 (interquartile range 3-70). The number of patients with ≥100 BCC in this group was similar to a previously described national cohort (22.2 vs 27% respectively). A total of 58% of referrals to the genetics clinics originated from maxillofacial surgeons and 42% from dermatologists. Individuals with ≥100 BCC had worse median QoL scores compared to those with <100 BCC (36 vs 29, P-value of 0.031).


CONCLUSIONS
The clinical features in our cohort were congruent with those previously described in Australia. The QoL is adversely correlated with increased BCC burden.
Department of Genetic Medicine, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Aamira J
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2341-2932
AJ
Huq
Department of Genetic Medicine, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Michael
M
Bogwitz
Melbourne EpiCentre, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Alexandra
A
Gorelik
Department of Genetic Medicine, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.|Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Ingrid M
IM
Winship
Victorian Clinical Genetics Services, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.|Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Susan M
SM
White
Department of Genetic Medicine, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.|Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Alison H
AH
Trainer
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001478:Basal Cell Nevus Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D014739:Victoria / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult


PTCH1

; 

SUFU

; Basal cell carcinoma (BCC); Gorlin syndrome; Gorlin-Goltz syndrome; basal cell nevus syndrome; nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome (NBCCS); quality of life in Gorlin syndrome