VP16.14: Diagnosis of short rib polydactyly syndrome type IV (Beemer‐Langer syndrome): a case report

Abstract

Short rib-polydactyly syndrome (SRPS) is a rare congenital autosomal recessive inherited disease classified in four subtypes. Prenatal ultrasonography findings and postnatal examinations may help classify in one of four subtypes. We present a case of an infant who presented multiple congenital anomalies and the postnatal radiography helped to classify the SRPS as type IV (Beemer-Langer). A 23-year-old was referred for prenatal ultrasound which showed cystic hygroma, small omphalocele and choledocal cyst. Chromosomal analysis revealed a normal male karyotype. Morphological scan revealed small thorax, short ribs, micromelic shortening of limbs with the tibia slightly longer than the fibula, unilateral clubfoot, hidrocephalus and renal hiperechogenicity. Magnetic Resonance performed at 35 weeks revealed micrognathia and mesenteric lymphangioma. The infant delivered at 38 weeks of gestation and died within 60 minutes due to respiratory failure. Postmortem radiography showed marked shortening of all long bones, strikingly narrow thorax with short and horizontal ribs, highly placed clavicles, small scapulae, small ilia and the tibia was longer then the fibula. Identification of the SRPS subtype can be difficult due to overlap of clinical and pathologic findings. This case may help understanding Beemer-Langer type's phenotypic features such as micrognathia, cleft lip, hydrops, hydrocephalus and omphalocele. The most common radiological findings include narrow thorax with short ribs, short tubular bones, highly placed clavicle, small scapulae and ilia and bowing of radius and ulna with the tibia being longer than the fibula. The prognosis of Beemer-Langer syndrome is poor as infants usually die shortly after birth because of respiratory failure secondary to marked pulmonary hypoplasia.