Oculo-auricular cranial dysplasia

Oculoauriculofrontonasal syndrome: Refining the phenotype through a new case series and literature review

The oculoauriculofrontonasal syndrome (OAFNS) is a rare condition, with unknown etiology, characterized by the association of frontonasal dysplasia (FND) and oculoauriculovertebral spectrum (OAVS). Main clinical findings include widely spaced eyes, epibulbar dermoid, broad nose, mandibular hypoplasia, and preauricular tags. Here, we describe a case series of 32 Brazilian individuals with OAFNS and review the literature ascertaining individuals presenting phenotypes compatible with the diagnosis of OAFNS, aiming to refine the phenotype. This series emphasizes the phenotypic variability of the OAFNS and highlights the occurrence of rare craniofacial clefts as a part of the phenotype. The ectopic nasal bone, a hallmark of OAFNS, was frequent in our series, reinforcing the clinical diagnosis. The absence of recurrence, consanguinity, chromosomal, and genetic abnormalities reinforces the hypothesis of a nontraditional inheritance model. The phenotypic refinement provided by this series contributes to an investigation regarding the etiology of OAFNS.

Glutamine Metabolism in Cancer

Metabolism is a fundamental process for all cellular functions. For decades, there has been growing evidence of a relationship between metabolism and malignant cell proliferation. Unlike normal differentiated cells, cancer cells have reprogrammed metabolism in order to fulfill their energy requirements. These cells display crucial modifications in many metabolic pathways, such as glycolysis and glutaminolysis, which include the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, the electron transport chain (ETC), and the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) [1]. Since the discovery of the Warburg effect, it has been shown that the metabolism of cancer cells plays a critical role in cancer survival and growth. More recent research suggests that the involvement of glutamine in cancer metabolism is more significant than previously thought. Glutamine, a nonessential amino acid with both amine and amide functional groups, is the most abundant amino acid circulating in the bloodstream [2]. This chapter discusses the characteristic features of glutamine metabolism in cancers and the therapeutic options to target glutamine metabolism for cancer treatment.

The oculoauriculofrontonasal syndrome: Further clinical characterization and additional evidence suggesting a nontraditional mode of inheritance

The oculoauriculofrontonasal syndrome (OAFNS) is a rare disorder characterized by the association of frontonasal dysplasia (widely spaced eyes, facial cleft, and nose abnormalities) and oculo-auriculo-vertebral spectrum (OAVS)-associated features, such as preauricular ear tags, ear dysplasia, mandibular asymmetry, epibulbar dermoids, eyelid coloboma, and costovertebral anomalies. The etiology is unknown so far. This work aimed to identify molecular bases for the OAFNS. Among a cohort of 130 patients with frontonasal dysplasia, accurate phenotyping identified 18 individuals with OAFNS. We describe their clinical spectrum, including the report of new features (micro/anophtalmia, cataract, thyroid agenesis, polymicrogyria, olfactory bulb hypoplasia, and mandibular cleft), and emphasize the high frequency of nasal polyps in OAFNS (56%). We report the negative results of ALX1, ALX3, and ALX4 genes sequencing and next-generation sequencing strategy performed on blood-derived DNA from respectively, four and four individuals. Exome sequencing was performed in four individuals, genome sequencing in one patient with negative exome sequencing result. Based on the data from this series and the literature, diverse hypotheses can be raised regarding the etiology of OAFNS: mosaic mutation, epigenetic anomaly, oligogenism, or nongenetic cause. In conclusion, this series represents further clinical delineation work of the rare OAFNS, and paves the way toward the identification of the causing mechanism.

Caudal Regression and Encephalocele: Rare Manifestations of Expanded Goldenhar Complex

Oculoauriculovertebral spectrum, or Goldenhar Syndrome, is a condition characterized by variable degrees of uni- or bilateral involvement of craniofacial structures, ocular anomalies, and vertebral defects. Its expressivity is variable; therefore, the term “expanded Goldenhar complex” has been coined. The Goldenhar Syndrome usually involves anomalies in craniofacial structures, but it is known that nervous system anomalies, including encephalocele or caudal regression, may, rarely, occur in this condition. We report two rare cases of infants affected by Goldenhar Syndrome, associated with neural tube defects, specifically caudal regression syndrome and nasal encephaloceles, to underline the extremely complex and heterogeneous clinical features of this oculoauriculovertebral spectrum. These additional particular cases could increase the number of new variable spectrums to be included in the “expanded Goldenhar complex.”

Oculoauriculofrontonasal Dysplasia Syndrome with Additional Clinical Features

Oculo-auriculo-vertebral spectrum and frontonasal dysplasia are two well-known examples of dysmorphology syndromes. Oculoauriculofrontonasal syndrome (OAFNS) is a clinical entity involving the characteristics of both OAVS and FND and is thought to be a result of the abnormal development of structures in the first and the second branchial arches, including the abnormal morphogenesis of maxillary processes. Herein we report a case of OAFNS with cliteral hypertrophy, premaxillary teeth, and inguinal hernia, features not previously reported in the literature.

Oculoauriculofrontonasal syndrome: case series revealing new bony nasal anomalies in an old syndrome

Frontonasal Dysplasia (FND) and Oculo-auriculo-vertebral spectrum (OAVS) are two well-recognized clinical entities. With features of both FND and OAVS, the term oculoauriculofrontonasal syndrome (OAFNS) was coined in 1981. The OAFNS phenotype combines elements of abnormal morphogenesis of the frontonasal and maxillary process (derived from forebrain neural crest) with abnormal development of the first and second branchial arches (derived from hindbrain neural crest). We present a case series of 33 children with OAFNS ascertained from a comprehensive review of the literature and report an additional retrospective series of eight patients displaying features consistent with OAFNS. Notably, in a subset of our cases, we have observed abnormalities in nasal ossification and bony structures of the maxilla that have not previously described in OAFNS and are not seen in either FND or OAVS. We present the phenotype and novel naso-maxillary findings and explore potential etiologic and developmental pathways for OAFNS. We highlight the differences in phenotypic characteristics of OAFNS compared to OAVS and FND. These observations support the classification of OAFNS as a discrete syndrome. Further phenotypic refinements of OAFNS are needed to understand pathogenesis of this syndrome and the newly described nasal malformation may help identify the etiology.

Preterm diagnosis of choristoma and choroidal coloboma in Goldenhar's syndrome

In addition to general pathological findings characteristic of Goldenhar's syndrome, we report ocular findings in a 22-week-old fetus with hemifacial microsomia, endorsing this diagnosis. After abortion the fetus was examined via a standard paidopathological autopsy including ophthalmopathologic macroscopic and microscopic examination of both eyes. Postmortem findings included left hemifacial microsomia with ipsilateral microtia, atresia of the acoustic meatus, microphthalmia, a ventricular septal defect, and abnormalities of the ribs. Ophthalmopathological examination of the affected microphthalmic eye revealed a scleral choristoma (cartilage), choroidal/retinal pigment epithelium coloboma, and staphyloma. General pathology findings plus the ocular findings allowed the diagnosis of Goldenhar's syndrome. The cartilaginous choristoma present in the patient has previously not been reported in association with this syndrome. A discussion of differential diagnoses is provided, confirming that the ophthalmopathological investigation of fetal eyes can be of great value for classifying syndromes associated with microphthalmia.

Subtypes of frontonasal dysplasia are useful in determining clinical prognosis

Frontonasal dysplasia [FND; OMIM 136760] results from abnormal morphogenesis of the frontonasal process with disruption of the formation of the facial midline. Craniofacial anomalies in FND include anterior cranium bifidum, ocular hypertelorism, orofacial clefting and notching or clefting of the alae nasi. The majority of FND cases are sporadic and discordance has been demonstrated in monozygotic twin pairs, arguing against a strong inherited component in pathogenesis. However, pedigrees with Mendelian inheritance and non-recurrent chromosome aberrations in FND patients demonstrate that gene mutations or cytogenetic imbalance can also be important in the etiology of this phenotype. We classified 101 reported cases of FND from the medical literature and three new cases into seven separate FND phenotypic subtypes in addition to isolated FND. Our aim was to evaluate FND patients for distinct phenotypes within the FND spectrum and to determine the evidence for a genetic etiology in each of the different subtypes. Our analysis showed significant differences in the severity of the accompanying malformations and the rates of learning disabilities in the FND subtypes, although the small patient numbers and method of patient ascertainment may have influenced the data. The results suggest that cases with FND should be evaluated for additional anomalies, as these may help to determine prognosis.

Oculo-auriculo-vertebral spectrum (OAVS): clinical evaluation and severity scoring of 53 patients and proposal for a new classification

Oculo-auriculo-vertebral spectrum (OMIM164210) is a phenotypically and probably also a genetically heterogeneous disorder, characterized by anomalies of the ear (mostly microtia), hemifacial microsomia, and defects of the vertebral column. Associated clinical findings include anomalies of the eye and brain, and developmental delay. We have evaluated the clinical data and photographs of 53 unrelated patients with OAVS, all presenting with either isolated microtia or preauricular tags in association with hemifacial microsomia as minimal diagnostic criteria; five had a positive family history for OAVS. Based on the main clinical findings and unilateral or bilateral involvement, we have developed a new classification system for OAVS, consisting of six subgroups. There is a statistically significant correlation between the subgroup and number of associated clinical findings, and a statistically significant difference regarding prognosis in uni- and bilaterally affected patients, suggesting that this classification is clinically relevant to the categorization of patients with OAVS. The newly developed scoring system (two points for each main clinical finding and one for each associated clinical finding) presented here, also aids prognosis, especially for delay of motor development and brain anomalies, and statistical analysis revealed significant clustering between different clinical findings of OAVS confirming the clinical impression previously published by several authors.

Early prenatal diagnosis of oculoauriculofrontonasal syndrome by three-dimensional ultrasound

Oculoauriculofrontonasal syndrome is a rare developmental field defect that represents an abnormal morphogenesis of the frontonasal eminence. It consists of features of both oculoauriculovertebral spectrum and frontonasal malformation. A few cases in the literature have described this syndrome, but to the best of our knowledge the present case is the first early prenatal diagnosis of this severe condition using three-dimensional ultrasonography.

Oculoauriculofrontonasal syndrome (OAFNS) in a nine-month-old male

We report a nine-month-old Caucasian male with features seen in oculoauriculovertebral spectrum (OAVS) and frontonasal dysplasia sequence (FND) born to normal, non-consanguineous parents and review the literature. His malformations included a left pre-auricular skin tag, severely hypoplastic right pinna without an external canal, severely everted and hypoplastic left upper eyelid, bilateral cleft lip and palate, bifid broad nasal tip, ocular hypertelorism, micrognathia, hypoplastic mandible, an extra cervical rib on the left, hemivertebrae at T3-4, agenesis of the posterior corpus callosum with a midline lipoma, and an extra renal pelvis. This constellation of anomalies is consistent with the diagnosis of oculoauriculofrontonasal syndrome (OAFNS) which appears to be a distinct condition from either OAVS or FND but with overlapping features.

Frontonasal malformation and the oculoauriculovertebral spectrum: the oculoauriculofrontonasal syndrome

Frontonasal malformation (FNM) is a developmental field defect representing abnormal morphogenesis of the frontonasal eminence. The oculoauriculovertebral spectrum (OAVS) has been used to describe a broader range of first and second branchial-arch defects including hemifacial microsomia and Goldenhar's syndrome. A combination of FNM and OAVS has been described in the literature in 13 cases. This condition has been labeled as the oculoauriculofrontonasal syndrome, as well as ophthalmofrontonasal dysplasia. We have evaluated four patients with both FNM and OAVS. The pattern of malformation involves only the craniofacies: they have no vertebral defects, heart disease, or encephaloceles. The categorization of these four individuals and those in the literature raises interesting issues regarding syndrome classification. Originally, it was suggested that perhaps this disorder was a variation of Goldenhar's syndrome. However, now that it has become evident that FNM and OAVS are malformation patterns of etiologic and presumably pathogenetic heterogeneity, a more likely hypothesis is that when these two defects occur together, this represents a unique syndrome pattern. The purpose of this article is to suggest that the combination of OAVS and FNM may be a distinct entity, representing a discreet subset of patients.

Frontonasal dysplasia: analysis of 21 cases and literature review

Twenty-one patients with frontonasal dysplasia were studied. A 2:1 male-to-female sex ratio and increased paternal and maternal ages at the time of conception were found. The significance is uncertain because of small sample size and lack of normal mean values for parental age in Brazil. Apparently, our series is the first to report macrocephaly (six cases). Our series also had a high frequency of patients with agenesis of the corpus callosum (12 cases), basal encephalocele (10 cases), lipoma of the corpus callosum (four cases), and mental deficiency (11 cases). Three patients had the combination of agenesis of the corpus callosum, mental deficiency, and micropenis. It is concluded that frontonasal dysplasia is pathogenetically heterogeneous, representing a regional defect which may not be a single developmental field or sequence. Causal genesis includes a dominantly inherited form, dup(2q), and autosomal recessive Shanske syndrome. Of unknown genesis are two subsets of frontonasal dysplasia patients: 1) the combination of agenesis of the corpus callosum, tibial hypoplasia, and hallucal duplication and 2) ophthalmofrontonasal dysplasia or oculoauriculofrontonasal dysplasia with associated ear tags and epibulbar dermoids.

Acromelic frontonasal "dysplasia": further delineation of a subtype with brain malformation and polydactyly (Toriello syndrome)

We report on a stillborn boy with frontonasal malformation (Sedano-Jiràsek type D-DeMyer type I), associated with encephalocoele, occipital meningocele and preaxial polydactyly of the feet. This form of frontonasal dysplasia was documented previously in a few other cases with various combinations of postaxial polydactyly, tibial hypoplasia, epibulbar dermoid, occipital encephalocoele, corpus callosum agenesis and Dandy-Walker malformation. Most cases are sporadic.

Fetal disruptions: assessment of frequency, heterogeneity, and embryologic mechanisms in a population referred to a community-based stillbirth assessment program

The Wisconsin Stillbirth Service Project (WiSSP) is a community-based program for the investigation of the cause of fetal death. From its inception in 1983 through July 1988, 629 referrals were made to WiSSP. All referrals were assessed for the presence of disruptional characteristics, and 23 were found to have major or primary disruptive effects. Most of these were either early amnion disruption/limb-body wall disruption (treated as a single group, since analysis suggests a continuum of clinical characteristics) and twin-twin disruptions. Therefore, disruptions accounted for 3.6% of all referrals (including liveborn and miscarriage referrals) to WiSSP. When only stillborn fetuses are considered, approximately 2.4% appear to have died because of disruptions. This makes disruptions one of the most frequent, identifiable causes of late intrauterine death. We estimate that 0.6-1.4% of all stillborn fetuses die because of early amnion disruption/limb-body wall disruption which, when taken with previous estimates of the frequency of such problems in early miscarriages and liveborn infants, suggests that these disruptions result in a 95% prenatal mortality rate. We suggest a unified model of likely pathogenetic mechanisms which may help explain the continuum of multisystem involvement seen in those with early amnion disruption/limb body wall disruption. In addition, 3 patients with atypical disruptions are reviewed who exemplify the difficulty and importance of differentiating disruptional and malformational processes.

Ocular choristomas

Choristomas are congenital lesions representing normal tissue(s) in an abnormal location. They are the most common epibulbar and orbital tumors in children. Epibulbar choristomas affect the cornea, limbus or subconjunctival space, and range in appearance from a small, flat lesion to a large mass filling most of the epibulbar region. Astigmatism is often present. Choristomas may be associated with coloboma, Goldenhar syndrome or epidermal nevus syndromes; those associated with the latter are often bilateral and extensive. Choristomas are occasionally familial. Surgery may be indicated to improve vision or cosmesis, or to impede growth. Although choristomas most commonly involve the epibulbar area, they can affect many areas of the eye and orbit, and often affect more than one area.

Frontonasal malformation as a field defect and in syndromic associations

Several new "syndromes" have been described that have in common facial findings identical or similar to those seen in frontonasal malformation (FNM), previously termed frontonasal dysplasia. Some of those new syndromes are inherited, whereas FNM is an isolated finding. Thus there is a need for differentiation among those conditions. A review of the literature was undertaken to identify and classify the various reports that describe FNM as it occurs alone and in association with a syndrome.

Oculoauriculovertebral anomaly: variability and causal heterogeneity

The oculoauriculovertebral anomaly is a complex developmental field defect. There is lack of agreement on the minimal diagnostic criteria and the phenotypic spectrum. Causal heterogeneity has been described. This report reviews aspects of phenotypic variability and causal heterogeneity and discusses current understanding of the defect.

Goldenhar syndrome, anterior encephalocele, and aqueductal stenosis following fetal primidone exposure

Fetal exposure to primidone was associated with Goldenhar syndrome, hemifacial microsomia, tetralogy of Fallot, aqueductal stenosis, and anterior encephalocele in this male infant. No similar cases in anticonvulsant-exposed pregnancies were found on literature review, despite the increased incidence of other anomalies following such exposure. Goldenhar syndrome, especially related to rare central nervous system anomalies, is reviewed. Experimental production of hemifacial microsomia by a folic acid antagonist, triaxene, is mediated via hemorrhage in the fetus. Intraventricular hemorrhage was noted in this infant as were dilated lateral and third ventricles. The hemorrhagic diathesis and/or the folic acid depletion of newborns following fetal anticonvulsant exposure may have been the underlying mechanism.

Encephalocele (cerebellocele) in the Goldenhar-Gorlin syndrome

A patient with unilateral preauricular appendages and occipital mass is described who died on the fifth day of life. An autopsy demonstrated congenital megabladder and megaureters and dysplastic kidneys. The neuropathological examination revealed cranium bifidum in the occipital region, defective posterior arch of the C1 vertebral body, agenesis of vermis and a large cerebellocele. It is suggested that some patients with the Goldenhar-Gorlin syndrome may have prominent central nervous system involvement in spite of only relatively slight facial involvement.

Cranial defects in the Goldenhar syndrome

Four patients are presented with the Goldenhar syndrome (GS) and cranial defects consisting of plagiocephaly, microcephaly, skull defects, or intracranial dermoid cysts. Twelve cases from the literature add hydrocephalus, encephalocele, and arhinencephaly to a growing list of brain anomalies in GS. As a group, these patients emphasize the variability of GS and the increased risk for developmental retardation with multiple, severe, or unusual manifestations. The temporal relation of proposed teratogenic events in GS provides an opportunity to reconstruct biological relationships within the 3-5-week human embryo.

Unilateral arhinencephaly in goldenhar-gorlin syndrome

The post-mortem examination of the brain of a 2 1/2-year-old girl with clinical featutes of oculo-auriculo-vertebral dysplasia and hemifacial microsomia (Goldenhar-Gorlin syndrom) revealed a unilateral absence of the olfactory foramina of the lamina cribrosa of the ethmoid bone and ipsilateral absence of olfactory bulb and tract. Other cerebral abnormalities were also present. In this report, unilateral arhinencephaly in this disorder has been documented for the first time and an attempt has been made to correlate various nosological, clinical and pathological aspects of the case with previously reported instances of arhinencephaly. It is concluded that unilateral arhinencephaly occurs in a variety of cranial and facial abnormalities and is not specific for any particular syndrome.

Oculo-auriculo-vertebral (Goldenhar's) syndrome

Images