DEFORMITY OF EARS AND KIDNEYS

Ten children with gross deformity of the external ear were observed. In six the facial bones were underdeveloped on the same side as the deformed ear. In all six there was a congenital abnormality of the kidney or upper urinary tract, usually on the same side as the deformed ear. In addition there were usually other associated congenital defects in each case.In the remaining four children the facial bones appeared normal, and pyelography showed no abnormality of the urinary tract. In these four children there were no other associated defects.These observations emphasize the importance of investigating the urinary tract in children with gross deformity of the external ear, especially where there is an associated underdevelopment of the facial bones.

THE DE LANGE SYNDROME: REPORT OF THREE CASES

Three cases of de Lange's syndrome are described. This condition is characterized by generally severe mental retardation, reduced stature, mild microcephaly, hypertrichosis, various anomalies of hands and feet, and a peculiar facies. The most outstanding features of the latter are the low forehead, profuse, generally confluent eyebrows, abundant long eyelashes, eyes that frequently slant downwards and outwards in antimongoloid fashion, pug nose with prominent anteverted nostrils, increased distance between nose and vermilion border of upper lip, slight reduction in size of chin, and often abnormally low-placed ears. The etiology of de Lange's syndrome is at present unknown.