Familial Poland anomaly revisited

Clinical and Radiological Features in Poland Syndrome: Report of 3 Cases and Review of Literature

Poland syndrome is indeed a rare congenital malformation that can present with various degrees of thoracic and homolateral upper limb anomalies. The classic features of Poland syndrome include agenesis or hypoplasia of the sternocostal head of the pectoralis major muscle, hypoplasia of the nipple, absence of subcutaneous fat, multiple rib abnormalities, and sometimes Sprengel deformity (elevation of the scapula). Additionally, ipsilateral symbrachydactyly (combination of "short fingers" with cutaneous syndactyly [fused fingers]) may also be observed. However, it's important to note that not all of these findings are always present in every patient, and the combination of features can vary greatly. Surgical treatment for Poland syndrome primarily focuses on improving pulmonary functions resulting from severe thoracic deformities. However, it is frequently performed with the additional goal of enhancing cosmetic appearance. In recent times, the use of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells and fat transfer has shown promising results for correcting chest defects and breast augmentation. In our study, we present a series of 3 cases that were referred to our institution due to thoracic deformities associated with Poland syndrome.

Natural History of Poland Syndrome: A Long-term Study of Functional and Psychosocial Outcomes

BACKGROUND

Poland syndrome (PS) is a congenital condition characterized by pectoralis hypoplasia and an ipsilateral hand anomaly that frequently necessitates surgery in childhood. This study aimed to determine long-term functional and psychosocial implications of PS.

METHODS

Patients underwent strength testing of their affected limb by comparing with their contralateral arm. They completed Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH), 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), and several Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS) surveys. Aggregate scores were compared with population norms.

RESULTS

Twenty-eight patients were enrolled, and 16 returned for strength testing. The average age was 42 years (range, 18-65 years), and the average follow-up was 25 years (range, 1-52 years). Dynamometer testing showed decreased strength in shoulder internal rotation and abduction/adduction, hand grip, and key pinch/tip pinch. Average DASH and SF-36 scores were comparable with population norms. The PROMIS Upper Extremity score (46.2) was significantly lower than the average 50 (SD, 10.0); the Social Roles score (57.3) indicated significantly less disability than the general population. Seventy-nine percent reported higher than average satisfaction with life, 82% had normal self-esteem, and 21% and 4% met screening criteria for depression and anxiety, respectively. The Derriford Appearance Scale revealed that 68% of patients identified PS as their most self-conscious feature, with 36% reporting subsequent life adjustments.

CONCLUSIONS

This cohort of PS patients self-reported more favorable functional, psychological, and emotional outcomes than expected based on significant shoulder and hand strength deficits. Despite these deficits, patients make adaptations, allowing fulfilling lives with psychosocial functioning similar to their peers.

A de novo SFMBT1 pathogenic variant identified in a boy with Poland syndrome

Poland syndrome is a rare developmental disorder characterized by unilateral, complete or partial, absence of the pectoralis major (and often minor) muscle, accompanied with ipsilateral hand malformations. To date, no clear genetic cause has been associated with Poland syndrome, although familial cases have been reported. We report the employment of trio exome investigation and the identification of a heterozygous de novo pathogenic variant in the SFMBT1 gene, a transcription factor associated with transcriptional repression during development, in a 14-yr-old boy with Poland syndrome. We further demonstrate by means of cDNA sequencing and western blot analysis that this variant results in SFMBT1 exon 10 skipping and a lower concentration of the SFMBT1 wild-type protein. To our knowledge, the heterozygous pathogenic SFMBT1 variant identified in association with this condition is novel as it has not been elsewhere described in the literature and it can be incorporated to the limited reported cases published.

Association of Poland Syndrome and hypertrichosis in pubertal girl - Case report

Poland syndrome (PS) is a rare congenital malformation, most commonly characterized by absence of chest wall muscles on one side of the body. It may be accompanied with other deformities of the extremities. We present the case of a 10-year-old girl with Poland syndrome and hypertrichosis of the back of the trunk and extremities. The clinical examination did not reveal the etiology of the syndrome, such as familial predisposition or some event that led to interrupted blood flow during the early embionic growth. The pregnancy was concieved with in vitro fertilization (IVF); triplets were born and our patient is one of these three girls. The hypertrychosis appeared at 8 years of life, without evidence of previous familial occurance, medications or hormonal disbalance. Other malformations that were found were: a mild form of kyphoscoliosis and mitral valve prolapse. The child was evaluated using a multidisciplinary approach, with further follow-up planned with surgical correction of the chest wall and breast augmentation.

Consensus based recommendations for diagnosis and medical management of Poland syndrome (sequence)

Background

Poland syndrome (OMIM: 173800) is a disorder in which affected individuals are born with missing or underdeveloped muscles on one side of the body, resulting in abnormalities that can affect the chest, breast, shoulder, arm, and hand. The extent and severity of the abnormalities vary among affected individuals.

Main body

The aim of this work is to provide recommendations for the diagnosis and management of people affected by Poland syndrome based on evidence from literature and experience of health professionals from different medical backgrounds who have followed for several years affected subjects. The literature search was performed in the second half of 2019. Original papers, meta-analyses, reviews, books and guidelines were reviewed and final recommendations were reached by consensus.

Conclusion

Being Poland syndrome a rare syndrome most recommendations here presented are good clinical practice based on the consensus of the participant experts.

Poland Sequence: Retrospective Analysis of 66 Cases

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

The literature reports many variations of Poland syndrome, which is a congenital disorder and a rare condition. The associated features are extremely variable, including alterations in the ipsilateral thorax and upper extremity and other malformations. This is used to designate the condition as Poland sequence (PS) because a sequence is a primary defect with a secondary cascade of structural changes. It is generally accepted that it is characterized as pathognomonic by absence/aplasia of the sternocostal aspect of the pectoralis major muscle of one side. Because it is considered a rare disease, and the incidence is low, we aimed to determine the features in all patients diagnosed at our institution to analyze the patterns and outcomes. We also revised the diagnosis according to the new classification proposed by Romanini et al to facilitate future treatments as well as to propose an improvement in the assessment and initial behavior when PS is suspected.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective study using our database from 1988. We identified 66 patients with a clinical diagnosis of PS in the Pediatric Plastic Surgery Unit of Hospital Sant Joan de Deu, Barcelona. We analyzed the medical charts, records, photographs, and imaging information to gather all the epidemiological information and clinical history, as well as the treatments received to analyze our experience with these patients. We used the TBN classification of Romanini et al, adding an S if there was upper extremity involvement (TBNS).We also conducted a systematic review consulting the following databases: PubMed, Cochrane Plus, Scopus, Web of Science, and Europe PMC.

RESULTS

Among the 66 patients, 27 were men, and 39 were women. The right side was affected in 51 patients (77.3%) (19 men and 32 women). In a total of 37 patients (56.1%; 16 men and 21 women), there was no upper extremity involvement. We found 40 cases with other associations, with scoliosis being the most common. Before 2007, the team performed surgery in 1 male patient and 4 female patients; after 2007, the actual team has performed reconstruction in 8 male patients and 16 female patients. In the female patients, the average volume of breast implants was 252.5 cc, and the average volume for fat grafting was 103.5 cc on the side affected with PS. There is a wide range of chest-breast clinical involvement, which was why we decided to readdress all the imaging and clinical history to classify the patients using a new classification system to learn how to optimally treat these cases in the future. In female patients, we used Romanini's TBN classification and added an S for upper extremity involvement; the T1B1N1S0 was the most frequently observed classification. Owing to the sample size and the disparity in sex distribution, we also reassessed publications in PubMed, Cochrane Plus, Scopus, Web of Science, and Europe PMC with more than 5 cases; we found that there were a total of 1600 patients with PS in the literature and that the distribution was almost 50% for men and women, including the patients in our study (611 women, 561 men).

CONCLUSIONS

We propose to include the presence of upper extremity involvement in Romanini's TBN classification (TBNS) for optimal management of these patients and use a standard number and profile for image documentation presurgery and postsurgery. We found that in the literature the ratio of men and women with PS was not 2 to 3:1, but 1:1. The most frequent phenotype of PS was T1B1N1S0 (hypoplasia or aplasia of the pectoralis muscles and soft tissue/breast hypoplasia/nipple-areolar complex with dislocation of <2 cm / absence of upper extremity involvement). There was no relationship between the side involved and patients' sex for the severity of the deformity and between the severity of the thoracic involvement and ipsilateral upper extremity association. In the literature, there are several plastic reconstruction methods available ranging from standard implants to microsurgery techniques. The selected procedure depends on the phenotype, patients' needs and expectations, availability of surgery in the hospital, and surgeons' criteria; thus, surgery has to be personalized while providing a match related to the risk/benefit, taking into account the degree of functional impairment. Since the author started her practice in the hospital in 2007, the timing for procedures has been proposed at the end of adolescence with 2 consecutive appointments without changes in the breast-thorax measures. The procedure performed has included implant use with lipofilling, yielding no major complications and a high rate of satisfaction during a maximum of 10 years of follow-up.

Developmental disorders and malformations of the breast

Developmental abnormalities and malformations of the breast are rare and encompass a variety of genetic, syndromic, acquired and sporadic conditions. Abnormalities in development may include irregularities in the nipple areolar complex and/or the underlying glandular tissue, resulting in under or overdevelopment of breasts. Age of presentation and clinical severity is dependent on the underlying biologic cause. Abnormalities may involve the entirety of unilateral or bilateral breasts, particularly in association with syndromic conditions or endocrine abnormalities. Disordered development may also be focal, resulting in tumor-like lesions such as hamartomas, pseudoangiomatous stromal hyperplasia and gynecomastia. In this review, we discuss the disorders of breast development including etiologies, clinical presentations and corresponding histopathologic features.

Poland syndrome: A proposed classification system and perspectives on diagnosis and treatment

Poland Syndrome (PS) is a rare condition, with an estimated incidence of approximately 1 per 30,000 births and encompasses a wide range of severities of chest and upper arm anomalies. The etiology remains unknown, but genetic involvement is suspected. Few radiological investigations have proven useful in the study PS phenotypes and we propose a reference algorithm for guiding pediatricians. Our experience with 245 PS patients in the last 10 years stimulated a phenotypical classification of PS. The management of the different PS types and a therapeutic algorithm according to the phenotypical features of each PS patient are also proposed.

Anaesthesia for chest wall reconstruction in a patient with Poland syndrome: CARE-compliant case report and literature review

BACKGROUND

Poland syndrome is a rare congenital disease, characterized by agenesis/hypoplasia of the pectoralis major muscle, usually associated with variable thoracic anomalies that needed chest wall reconstruction under general anesthesia. Anaesthetic management in Poland syndrome has scarcely been described.

CASE PRESENTATION

Here, we present our anaesthetic management of Nuss procedure for chest wall correction in a 5 years old patient with Poland syndrome. We also reviewed the reports of anaesthetic management of Poland syndrome by searching Pubmed, and summarize the perioperative procedures that may warrant a safe surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

Examinations before surgery, intraoperative monitoring, choice of general anesthetics and pain management after surgery should all be contemplated.

Controversies in Poland Syndrome: Alternative Diagnoses in Patients With Congenital Pectoral Muscle Deficiency

PURPOSE

Poland syndrome was first described as a deficiency of the pectoral muscle with ipsilateral symbrachydactyly. Currently, numerous case reports describe variations of Poland syndrome in which pectoral muscle deficiency is often used as the only defining criterion. However, more syndromes can present with pectoral muscle deficiency. The aim of this review is to illustrate the diversity of the phenotypic spectrum of Poland syndrome and to create more awareness for alternative diagnoses in pectoral muscle deficiency.

METHODS

A systematic literature search was performed. Articles containing phenotypical descriptions of Poland syndrome were included. Data extraction included number of patients, sex, familial occurrence, and the definition of Poland syndrome used. In addition, hand deformities, thoracic deformities, and other deformities in each patient were recorded. Alternative syndrome diagnoses were identified in patients with a combination of hand, thorax, and other deformities.

RESULTS

One hundred-and-thirty-six articles were included, describing 627 patients. Ten different definitions of Poland syndrome were utilized. In 58% of the cases, an upper extremity deformity was found and 43% of the cases had an associated deformity. Classic Poland syndrome was seen in 29%. Fifty-seven percent of the patients with a pectoral malformation, a hand malformation, and another deformity had at least 1feature that matched an alternative syndrome.

CONCLUSIONS

Pectoral muscle hypoplasia is not distinctive for Poland syndrome alone but is also present in syndromes with other associated anomalies with a recognized genetic cause. Therefore, in patients with an atypical phenotype, we recommend considering other diagnoses and/or syndromes before diagnosing a patient with Poland syndrome. This can prevent diagnostic and prognostic errors.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Differentiating Poland syndrome from the alternative diagnoses has serious consequences for the patient and their family in terms of inheritance and possible related anomalies.

Poland Syndrome with Ipsilateral Hypoplasia of Gluteal Muscles and Contralateral Hidradenitis Suppurativa

Background

Poland syndrome (PS) is a rare congenital anomaly associated with absent or hypoplastic pectoralis major muscle and a wide spectrum of ipsilateral thoracic and upper extremity deformities. Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a recurrent inflammatory follicular disease that commonly affects the apocrine-bearing skin and involves follicular occlusion and hyperkeratosis.

Case Report

We report a case of a 46-year-old male with a history of chronic recurrent hidradenitis suppurativa who was incidentally found to have a simple type of Poland syndrome with incidental hypoplasia of ipsilateral gluteal muscles.

Conclusions

Not only can PS present with HS, which we describe for the first time, but it is also associated with a wide variability of symptoms such as previously unknown co-existence of gluteal muscles hypoplasia.

Proposal of the TBN Classification of Thoracic Anomalies and Treatment Algorithm for Poland Syndrome

BACKGROUND

Poland syndrome is a congenital deformity characterized by unilateral anomalies of pectoralis muscles, breast, nipple, axillary fold, subcutaneous tissue, ribs, and upper limb. The thoracic anomaly, which is the pathognomonic malformation of Poland syndrome, presents a wide phenotype variability and has been classified by different authors. However, these classifications do not include all the possible phenotypes of Poland syndrome. The aim of this study is to propose a simple classification of the whole spectrum of thoracic anomalies and a treatment algorithm that could have a practical value for determining the surgical approach.

METHODS

Since 2008, 100 patients have been evaluated by the same plastic surgical team at San Martino Hospital-IST and Istituto Gaslini of Genoa, Italy, using the thorax, breast, nipple-areola complex (TBN) classification. Thoracic anomalies were classified as follows: thorax (T), from T1 (muscle defect only) to T4 (complex deformity with rib and sternal involvement); breast (B), in B1 (hypoplasia) or B2 (amastia); and nipple-areola complex (N), from N1 (dislocation <2 cm) to N3 (athelia).

RESULTS

The most frequent thoracic anomalies were T1 (47 percent) and N2 (74 percent), whereas in female patients, B1 was more frequent than B2. The surgical approach to breast and pectoral reconstruction was based not only on the patient's age and sex, but also on the type of anomaly according to the TBN classification. In particular, a two-step approach with tissue expanders was required in N2 and N3 cases, whereas in N1 patients a single step was sufficient.

CONCLUSION

The TBN classification can be a useful tool for surgical decision-making according to each specific thoracic anomaly.

CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Diagnostic, IV.

Assessment of copy number variations in 120 patients with Poland syndrome

BACKGROUND

Poland Syndrome (PS) is a rare congenital disorder presenting with agenesis/hypoplasia of the pectoralis major muscle variably associated with thoracic and/or upper limb anomalies. Most cases are sporadic, but familial recurrence, with different inheritance patterns, has been observed. The genetic etiology of PS remains unknown. Karyotyping and array-comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) analyses can identify genomic imbalances that can clarify the genetic etiology of congenital and neurodevelopmental disorders. We previously reported a chromosome 11 deletion in twin girls with pectoralis muscle hypoplasia and skeletal anomalies, and a chromosome six deletion in a patient presenting a complex phenotype that included pectoralis muscle hypoplasia. However, the contribution of genomic imbalances to PS remains largely unknown.

METHODS

To investigate the prevalence of chromosomal imbalances in PS, standard cytogenetic and array-CGH analyses were performed in 120 PS patients.

RESULTS

Following the application of stringent filter criteria, 14 rare copy number variations (CNVs) were identified in 14 PS patients in different regions outside known common copy number variations: seven genomic duplications and seven genomic deletions, enclosing the two previously reported PS associated chromosomal deletions. These CNVs ranged from 0.04 to 4.71 Mb in size. Bioinformatic analysis of array-CGH data indicated gene enrichment in pathways involved in cell-cell adhesion, DNA binding and apoptosis processes. The analysis also provided a number of candidate genes possibly causing the developmental defects observed in PS patients, among others REV3L, a gene coding for an error-prone DNA polymerase previously associated with Möbius Syndrome with variable phenotypes including pectoralis muscle agenesis.

CONCLUSIONS

A number of rare CNVs were identified in PS patients, and these involve genes that represent candidates for further evaluation. Rare inherited CNVs may contribute to, or represent risk factors of PS in a multifactorial mode of inheritance.

De novo deletion of chromosome 11q12.3 in monozygotic twins affected by Poland Syndrome

Background

Poland Syndrome (PS) is a rare disorder characterized by hypoplasia/aplasia of the pectoralis major muscle, variably associated with thoracic and upper limb anomalies. Familial recurrence has been reported indicating that PS could have a genetic basis, though the genetic mechanisms underlying PS development are still unknown.

Case presentation

Here we describe a couple of monozygotic (MZ) twin girls, both presenting with Poland Syndrome. They carry a de novo heterozygous 126 Kbp deletion at chromosome 11q12.3 involving 5 genes, four of which, namely HRASLS5, RARRES3, HRASLS2, and PLA2G16, encode proteins that regulate cellular growth, differentiation, and apoptosis, mainly through Ras-mediated signaling pathways.

Conclusions

Phenotype concordance between the monozygotic twin probands provides evidence supporting the genetic control of PS. As genes controlling cell growth and differentiation may be related to morphological defects originating during development, we postulate that the observed chromosome deletion could be causative of the phenotype observed in the twin girls and the deleted genes could play a role in PS development.