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Midface Hypoplasia and Cranial Base Morphology in Syndromic Craniosynostosis: A Comparative Analysis Study Using a Predictive Regression Model
Published on: November 4, 2025
Craniosynostosis: A rare complication of pycnodysostosis
Sara Osimani1, Isabelle Husson, Sandrine Passemard
1Department of Genetics, AP-HP Robert DEBRE University Hospital, Paris, France.
Insights
Pycnodysostosis, a rare genetic disorder, can cause dangerous intracranial hypertension due to craniosynostosis, contrary to its typical presentation. Early monitoring of eye fundus and head circumference is crucial for affected children.
Area of Science:
- Medical Genetics
- Pediatrics
- Neurology
Background:
- Rare genetic disorders often present with poorly documented, uncommon features.
- Pycnodysostosis is characterized by skeletal abnormalities and typically delayed suture closure.
Observation:
- A 7-year-old boy with pycnodysostosis (CSTK gene mutation) developed intracranial hypertension.
- Diagnosis revealed coronal and metopic craniosynostoses, despite patent fontanels.
Findings:
- This case highlights a rare presentation of pycnodysostosis with craniosynostosis leading to intracranial hypertension.
- Intracranial hypertension and craniosynostosis are exceptionally rare in pycnodysostosis, contrasting with typical delayed fontanel closure.
Implications:
- Intracranial hypertension is a rare but life-threatening complication of pycnodysostosis.
- Systematic fundus oculi examination and occipitofrontal circumference monitoring are recommended for pycnodysostosis patients.
Abstract:
Uncommon features of rare genetic disorders are often poorly known, as the likelihood of having them reported is low. We describe a 7-year-old boy with clinical and radiological diagnosis of pycnodysostosis, and c.436G>C (p.G146R) mutation in CSTK). He developed intracranial hypertension that required surgical decompression. Despite patent fontanels, the cause of the intracranial hypertension was identified to be a combination of coronal and metopic craniosynostoses. Intracranial hypertension and craniosynostosis have only been reported once in pycnodysostosis, which is on the contrary characterized by delayed closure of the sutures and persistence of open fontanels. Our observation confirms that intracranial hypertension represents a rare but life-threatening complication of pycnodysostosis. We strongly suggest including systematic examination of fundus oculi and monitoring of OFC in the systematic clinical follow-up of these patients.
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