The neurofibromatosis-Noonan syndrome

The Noonan syndrome/cherubism association

Noonan syndrome is characterized by short stature, unusual facies, congenital heart disease, chest deformity, mild mental retardation, and cryptorchidism in males. It may be sporadic or inherited as an autosomal dominant trait and occurs between 1 in 1000 and 1 in 2500 live births. Cherubism is a giant cell lesion of the jaws thought to be transmitted as an autosomal dominant trait. It is usually recognized by age 7 years, follows a variable course, and is not known to be related to other genetic disorders. We herein report on four patients with Noonan syndrome, all of whom had cherubism. Two other probable cases are cited in the literature for a total of six known cases.

Neurofibromatosis with fully expressed Noonan syndrome

We present an 18-year-old man with neurofibromatosis (NF) and classic manifestations of the Noonan syndrome (NS), including the cardiac findings. His father also has neurofibromatosis but only some of the characteristics of Noonan syndrome. This case lends further support to the notion that the neurofibromatosis-Noonan syndrome (NF-NS) is a discrete entity and demonstrates that the NF-NS can be inherited, with variable expression of the Noonan phenotype within a family.

Vertical transmission of the neurofibromatosis/Noonan syndrome

We are reporting on a boy and his mother with neurofibromatosis and manifestations of Noonan syndrome, including short stature, ptosis, midface hypoplasia, and short neck. Developmental delay was noted in the son, and the mother was noted to have a heart murmur. There was a family history of café-au-lait spots, and photographs of several of these relatives showed a facial appearance suggesting Noonan syndrome. The presence of neurofibromatosis associated with Noonan syndrome manifestations in our related patients suggests presence of a unique disorder sharing characteristics of both conditions.

Noonan's syndrome and neurofibromatosis

A child with Noonan syndrome and multiple cafe au lait spots, compatible in size and number with von Recklinghausen's neurofibromatosis, is presented. These features may represent a distinct genetic entity rather than the coincidence of two diseases.