On the nosology of the "primary true microcephaly, chorioretinal dysplasia, lymphoedema" association

Abstract

We describe a male child with prenatal growth retardation, true microcephaly, pedal lymphoedema and characteristic ocular anomalies. Ophthalmological examination revealed remnants of the posterior hyaloidea, more pronounced in the right eye where a retinal fold extended from the papilla into the vitreum, chorioretinal dysplasia with narrow retinal vessels, multiple large round areas of chorioretinal atrophy and atrophic papillae. The associations "Microcephaly-chorioretinal dysplasia", "Microcephaly-retinal folds" and "Microcephaly-lymphoedema" have been reported as separate autosomal dominant conditions. The findings in the present child suggest that these associations could be variable expressions of the same autosomal dominant condition.