Hydrocephalus with cleft lip and palate: an overlap between midline malformation syndromes

Murat Cakir1, Ilke Mungan, Melike Makuloglu

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Karadeniz Technical University Faculty of Medicine, Trabzon, Turkey. muratcak@hotmail.com

Insights

This case study details a male infant with multiple congenital anomalies, including hydrocephalus and cleft palate. Differential diagnosis considered syndromes like Meckel and Smith-Lemli-Opitz.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Genetics
  • Developmental Biology
  • Pediatric Medicine

Background:

  • Congenital anomalies present a significant diagnostic challenge.
  • Syndromic presentations require careful differential diagnosis.

Observation:

  • A male infant presented with hydrocephalus, cleft lip/palate, micrognathia, club foot, laryngeal stenosis, and atrial septal defect.
  • Karyotype confirmed a 46 XY chromosomal complement.

Findings:

  • The observed combination of malformations overlaps with features of hydrolethalus syndrome, Meckel syndrome, Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome, and pseudotrisomy 13.
  • This constellation suggests a complex genetic or developmental etiology.

Implications:

  • Accurate diagnosis is crucial for genetic counseling and family planning.
  • Understanding overlapping syndromes aids in refining diagnostic criteria and future research.

Related Concept Videos

Cerebral Edema ll: Pathophysiology01:22

Cerebral Edema ll: Pathophysiology

Vasogenic edema is a major form of cerebral edema characterized by abnormal accumulation of fluid in the brain’s extracellular space due to disruption of the blood–brain barrier (BBB). The BBB is a specialized structure composed of endothelial cells connected by tight junctions, supported by astrocytic endfeet and a basement membrane. Under normal conditions, it tightly regulates the movement of ions, proteins, and solutes between the bloodstream and brain parenchyma. When this barrier loses...
Cerebral Edema l: Introduction01:19

Cerebral Edema l: Introduction

Cerebral edema is a pathological increase in brain water content that disrupts intracranial pressure regulation and impairs neurological function. Because the cranial vault is rigid, even modest increases in tissue volume can compromise cerebral perfusion, distort neural structures, and initiate secondary injury. Cerebral edema develops through four principal mechanisms: vasogenic, cytotoxic, interstitial, and ionic.Vasogenic EdemaVasogenic edema arises from disruption of the blood–brain...
Anatomy of the Brain: Ventricles01:18

Anatomy of the Brain: Ventricles

There are hollow fluid-filled cavities known as ventricles deep inside the human brain. There are two lateral ventricles, one in each cerebral hemisphere, and each has three different projections — the anterior, inferior, and posterior horns visible from the lateral side. A thin membrane called the septum pellucidum separates the two lateral ventricles. The slender third ventricle in the diencephalon is connected to each lateral ventricle via a channel called the interventricular foramen. The...
Increased Intracranial Pressure l: Introduction01:14

Increased Intracranial Pressure l: Introduction

Intracranial hypertension is a sustained elevation of intracranial pressure (ICP) above 22 mm Hg. In supine adults, normal ICP is ~7–15 mm Hg.The rigid, nonexpandable cranium contains three components—brain tissue, blood, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)—that total ~1,700 mL in a typical adult: 1,400 mL brain (~80%), 150 mL blood (~10%), and 150 mL CSF (~10%). According to the Monro–Kellie doctrine, total intracranial volume is effectively fixed. When one component expands, CSF and venous blood...
Cystic Fibrosis: Pathogenesis01:23

Cystic Fibrosis: Pathogenesis

Cystic fibrosis (CF), an autosomal recessive disorder, significantly affects the function of exocrine glands. This genetically inherited disease is characterized by the production of thick and sticky mucus, which can severely affect various organs and systems in the body.
CF is primarily caused by a genetic mutation in a chromosome 7 gene coding for the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein. The most common gene mutation leading to CF is the ΔF508 mutation, but...