We describe two boys with the cerebro-costomandibular syndrome (CCMS).
Both patients presented with Pierre Robin anomaly and respiratory ins
ufficiency and died 12 hours and 10 months after birth. The first boy
had muscular hypotonia, severe micrognathia, glossoptosis, short; pala
te, preauricular tag, paraumbilical fibroma, and a small and narrow th
orax. His chest roentgenographs showed marked hypoplasia of the first
to tenth rib, multiple posterior rib-gaps in the only four ossified ri
bs. Tracheomalacia and stenosis of the left ureter was observed during
autopsy. No structural cerebral anomalies were observed. Respiratory
distress necessitated a tracheostomy in the second boy. He had severe
micrognathia with glossoptosis and a cleft soft palate were noted. His
chest roentgenograph showed a bell-shaped, small thorax with multiple
dorsal rib-gap defects. CCMS is a rare disorder often associated with
Pierre Robin anomaly. Chest roentgenographs show the typical posterio
r rib-gap defects, which are quite variable. CCMS usually occurs as an
isolated event in a family. Of 41 reported families four reports desc
ribe horizontal and two describe vertical transmission of CCMS. This m
ight imply genetic heterogeneity with autosomal recessive and autosoma
l dominant inheritance. Inter- and intrafamilial expression is variabl
e. Careful family studies are necessary before genetic counseling is g
iven. (C) 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.