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CTC1 mutation causing cerebro-retinal microangiopathy with calcifications and cysts type 1, masquerading as TORCH
Vykuntaraju K Gowda1, Varunvenkat M Srinivasan2, Himani Reddy Pandey3
1Pediatric Neurology, Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health, Bengaluru, KA, India drknvraju08@gmail.com.
Insights
This case study details a rare genetic disorder, cerebroretinal microangiopathy with calcifications and cysts type 1 (CRMCC), in an adolescent male. It highlights the importance of considering CRMCC in multisystem disease, even without typical eye findings.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Neurology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Cerebroretinal microangiopathy with calcifications and cysts type 1 (CRMCC) is a rare genetic disorder.
- Patients typically present with neurological deterioration and characteristic retinal findings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report a case of CRMCC with atypical presentation.
- To emphasize the phenotypic variability of CTC1 gene mutations.
Main Methods:
- Detailed neuroimaging including MRI.
- Exome sequencing to identify genetic variants.
- Clinical and ophthalmological examination.
Main Results:
- The patient exhibited progressive neurological decline, seizures, cognitive impairment, and multisystemic involvement including liver disease and bleeding.
- Neuroimaging revealed periventricular calcifications and white matter abnormalities, characteristic of CRMCC.
- Exome sequencing identified a homozygous pathogenic variant in the CTC1 gene, confirming the diagnosis despite normal ophthalmological findings.
Conclusions:
- This case underscores the significant phenotypic variability associated with CTC1 mutations.
- CRMCC should be considered in the differential diagnosis of intracranial calcifications and multisystem disease, even when retinal manifestations are absent.
Abstract:
An early adolescent male from a consanguineous family presented with progressive neurological deterioration, including developmental delay, seizures, left hemiparesis and cognitive decline from early childhood. He subsequently developed gastrointestinal bleeding, chronic liver disease with oesophageal varices, severe anaemia and thrombocytopenia. Initial investigations suggested TORCH (Toxoplasmosis, Other, Rubella, Cytomegalovirus, Herpes simplex) infection due to intracranial calcifications and multisystem involvement. However, detailed neuroimaging revealed extensive periventricular calcifications, white matter abnormalities and cysts characteristic of cerebroretinal microangiopathy with calcifications and cysts type 1 (CRMCC). Notably, ophthalmological examination was normal, lacking the typical retinal findings. Exome sequencing identified a homozygous pathogenic variant c.775G>A p.(Val259Met) in the CTC1 gene, confirming CRMCC. The patient died in their late adolescence from respiratory failure and sepsis. This case highlights the phenotypic variability of CTC1 mutations and emphasises the consideration of CRMCC in patients with intracranial calcifications and multisystem disease, even in the absence of retinal involvement.
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