MARKED FEMALE PREDILECTION IN SOME SYNDROMES ASSOCIATED WITH FACIAL HEMANGIOMAS

Analysis of the literature yielded 42 examples of the combination of s ternal non-union and supraumbilical raphe without evidence of sex pred ilection. However, among an additional 31 cases in which the triad inc luded facial hemangioma, there was almost exclusive female occurrence. Another condition involves extensive unilateral hemangioma of the fac e, absence of ipsilateral carotid and vertebral vessels, mental retard ation, and Dandy-Walker malformation. Still another disorder has been proposed which includes facial hemangioma and dilatation of the caroti d syphon. Both of these conditions exhibit marked female predilection. Examples of overlap of all three ''disorders'' cause the authors to q uestion the independence of these disorders, hypothesizing instead tha t they represent a spectrum. (C) 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.