Familial transmission of del (18p) syndrome from a mother to her daugh
ter is rare and has been reported only once before. We report a female
patient referred to us at age 18 years because of mental retardation
associated with short stature. Similar clinical features are also seen
in her mother. Chromosome analysis revealed a 46, XX, del (18) (p11.2
) karyotype in both the proposita and her mother. Fluorescence in situ
hybridization with whole chromosome paint for chromosome Is showed no
evidence of translocation. Because of the familial transmission of de
l (18p), this case has wider implications in genetic counseling.