We report two sibs with trisomy for the region 2p25.1 --> pter and monosomy
for the region 12p13.31-->pter, due to adjacent-1 segregation of a materna
l balanced reciprocal translocation, 46,XX,t(2;12)(p25.1,p13.31). These sib
s presented with a mild phenotype, but nevertheless showed features of each
of the contributing aneusomies. Monosomy 12p has previously been considere
d to have a variable and indistinct phenotype. Comparison of these patients
with previous reports showed that many features, including microcephaly, f
acial dysmorphia, developmental and growth delay and dental and digital ano
malies are frequently associated with monosomy for 12p. Many of these featu
res are common to other aneusomies, thereby mitigating against a distinct 1
2p monosomy syndrome at this time. However, the combination of digital and
dental anomalies may suggest the presence of this particular monosomy. The
proband and his sister had some of the more non-specific features of 2p tri
somy syndrome, and comparison with previous reports suggested that the char
acteristic 2p trisomy syndrome is more usually associated with larger or mo
re proximal trisomies of 2p.