[Wiedemann-Beckwith syndrome: clinical characteristics, constitutional chromosome abnormalities and tumor incidence]

Risk of tumorigenesis in overgrowth syndromes: a comprehensive review

Overgrowth syndromes (OGS) comprise a heterogeneous group of disorders in which the main characteristic is that either weight, height, or head circumference is 2-3 standard deviations (SD) above the mean for sex and age. A striking feature of OGS is the risk of neoplasms. Here, the relative frequency of specific tumors in each OGS, topographic location, and age of appearance is determined by reviewing published cases. In some OGS (Perlman, Beckwith-Wiedemann, and Simpson-Golabi-Behmel syndromes and hemihyperplasia) more than 94% of tumors appeared in the abdomen usually before 10 years of age, mainly embryonal in type. In Perlman syndrome, only Wilms tumor has been recorded, whereas in Sotos syndrome, lympho-hematologic tumors are most frequent. Based on literature review, a specific schedule protocol for tumor screening is suggested for each OGS. A schedule with different intervals and specific tests is proposed for a more rational cost/benefit program for these disorders.

Medullary sponge kidneys and unilateral Wilms tumour in a child with Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome

The occurrence of a Wilms tumour in a 4-year-old girl with bilateral medullary sponge kidney. Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome and congenital hemihypertrophy demonstrates the close relationship between these disorders. Another six cases from the literature with congenital hemihypertrophy and with medullary sponge kidney are discussed, two of them also developed intraabdominal neoplasm.

Simultaneous hepatoblastoma in identical male twins

Identical male twin infants who in 1987 presented with hepatoblastoma at the age of 7 months are reported. Twin B was admitted for investigation due to enlarged liver and spleen. He was found to have an inoperable hepatoblastoma of fetal type and was treated with chemotherapy and local irradiation. However, 7 months after the chemotherapy the tumor recurred. The asymptomatic twin A was examined because of the known familial cases, and he proved to have an identical tumor. He was successfully radically operated on and 2 years after the chemotherapy is still doing well with no evidence of tumor. As the mother and the maternal grandmother had polyps in the colon, quite probably the hepatoblastomas of the twins were associated with familial adenomatous polyposis.