Disordered vertebral and rib morphology in pudgy mice. Structural relationships to human scoliosis.

Normal and abnormal vertebral development have been studied over the past 200 years at increasing levels of resolution as techniques for biological investigation have improved. Disordered development of the axial skeleton from the early embryonic period on leads to structurally malformed vertebrae and intervertebral discs and ribs causing the severe deformities of scoliosis, kyphosis, and kyphoscoliosis. Developmental malformation of the axial skeleton therefore has led to considerable biological and clinical interest. This work will detail our studies on the structural deformities of the vertebral column and adjacent ribs in the pudgy mouse [1] caused by mutations in the delta-like 3 (Dll3) gene of the Notch family [2]. While gene abnormalities in the pudgy mouse have been outlined, there has been no in-depth assessment of the histopathology of the pudgy vertebral and rib abnormalities that this study will provide. In addition, although congenital scoliosis has been recognized as a clinical problem since the mid-nineteenth century (1800s) [3] and accurately defined by radiography since the early twentieth century (1900s) [4-6], there have been few detailed histopathologic studies of human cases. We will also relate our histopathologic findings in the pudgy mouse to the histopathology of human vertebral and rib malformations in clinical cases of congenital scoliosis, one of which we defined in detail previously [7].

Asociación sindromática: Poland, Goldenhar, Moebius, Klippel-Feil: presentación de un caso clínico / Poland, Goldenhar, Moebius, Klippel-Feil syndrome: a clinical case

Poland Syndrome is a congenital defect characterized by a unilateral absence of the clavicular and stem costal portion of the pectoral muscles associated to abnormalities of other muscles of the thoracic wall, ribs, breast and upper extremity. It is found in one of 20 to 32 thousand newborns. It is found sometimes associated to other syndromes, most often with Moebius Syndrome, and rarely with Goldenhar and Klippel-Feil. Due to the association, a common pathogenic cause has been postulated, that being an anomaly of vascularization during embryonic development. Clinical Case: A newborn male was seen who presented with Poland, Goldenhar, Moebius and Klippel-Feil Syndromes. Clinically, he presented left hemi facial microsomy, microtia, shortening and paralysis of the facial nerve; his neck was short and movement was limited due to C4-C5 fusion; agenesis of left pectorals, hypoplasia of left radius and hand. There were no known additional family cases, being thus, a sporadic syndromatic association.

Introducción: El síndrome de Poland es un defecto muscular congénito, heterogéneo, caracterizado por ausencia unilateral de las porciones clavicular y/o esternocostal del músculo pectoral mayor, que se puede asociar a compromiso de otros músculos de la pared torácica, costillas, mama y extremidad superior. Se presenta con una frecuencia entre 1/20 000 al/32 000 nacidos. El síndrome de Poland se presenta en algunas ocasiones asociado a otros síndromes, siendo clásica con el síndrome de Moebius. Excepcionalmente se ha descrito la aparición conjunta con otros síndromes como Goldenhar y Klippel-Feil. Por la relación que existe entre ellos se plantea una patogenia común: anomalía en la vascularización, durante el desarrollo embrionario. Caso Clínico: Paciente de sexo masculino, con asociación sindromática de Poland, Goldenhar, Moebius y Klippel-Feil. Como características clínicas presenta a izquierda microsomia hemifacial, microtia, acortamiento de rama mandibular y parálisis facial; cuello corto y limitación de movimientos por fusión de C4-C5; agenesia del pectoral mayor izquierdo, hipoplasia de radio y mano izquierda. Sin antecedentes familiares, se trataría de un caso esporádico de asociación sindromática.

Embryology of the spine and associated congenital abnormalities.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: The spine is a complex and vital structure. Its function includes not only structural support of the body as a whole, but it also serves as a conduit for safe passage of the neural elements while allowing proper interaction with the brain. Anatomically, a variety of tissue types are represented in the spine. Embryologically, a detailed cascade of events must occur to result in the proper formation of both the musculoskeletal and neural elements of the spine. Alterations in these embryologic steps can result in one or more congenital abnormalities of the spine. Other body systems forming at the same time embryologically can be affected as well, resulting in associated defects in the cardiopulmonary system and the gastrointestinal and genitourinary tracts. PURPOSE: This article is to serve as a review of the basic embryonic development of the spine. We will discuss the common congenital anomalies of the spine, including their clinical presentation, as examples of errors of this basic embryologic process. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING: Review of the current literature on the embryology of the spine and associated congenital abnormalities. METHODS: A literature search was performed on the embryology of the spine and associated congenital abnormalities. RESULTS: Development of the spine is a complex event involving genes, signaling pathways and numerous metabolic processes. Various abnormalities are associated with errors in this process. CONCLUSION: Physicians treating patients with congenital spinal deformities should have an understanding of normal embryologic development as well as common associated abnormalities.

[Dermoid cyst in the fourth ventricle associated with Klippel-Feil syndrome].

Dermoid cysts in the central nervous system are often associated with various congenital disorders, especially dermal sinus and spina bifida. We report a case of dermoid cyst in the fourth ventricle associated with Klippel-Feil syndrome. A 47-year-old man with a long history of headache had been known to have a cystic lesion in the posterior fossa for 12 years. When he was referred to our hospital with complaints of transient tetraparesis, he showed bilateral cerebellar ataxia and minimal left hemiparesis. Furthermore, he was noted to have a webbed neck with a low hairline and facial asymmetry. CT and MRI showed multiple cerebral infarctions as well as a mass lesion in the posterior fossa. Cervical roentgenogram showed a fusion of C 2 and C 3 vertebrae. The tumor was totally removed via a suboccipital approach, and the diagnosis was a dermoid cyst. The present patient had not only dermoid cyst and Klippel-Feil syndrome but also hypertrophy of the zygomatic bone. The pathogenesis of the Klippel-Feil syndrome is presumed to be an intrauterine defect, with a failure of segmentation of mesodermal somites. The zygomatic bone is also derived from the mesoderm somites at early fourth week, too. From these points of view, the disturbance in the mesoderm before the fourth week of gestation might have played an important role in causing a dermoid cyst.

Klippel-Feil syndrome.

Nurses working with orthopaedic clients and pediatric populations may be the first to recognize the classic triad of Klippel-Feil syndrome: short neck, limitation of neck motion, and low occipital hairline. Klippel-Feil syndrome is a congenital malformation of the cervical vertebrae, with limited treatment options. Client/family education is vital to monitor and maintain function and to prevent neurologic deficits resulting from the fusions, accidents, or trauma.

Isolation of the right subclavian artery with subclavian steal in a child with Klippel-Feil anomaly: an example of the subclavian artery supply disruption sequence.

We studied a patient with Klippel-Feil anomaly and subclavian steal due to isolation of the right subclavian artery. Other anomalies included hypoplasia of the right clavicle and right vertebral artery, low bifurcation of the left common carotid artery and left choanal atresia. The patient was mentally retarded with corticospinal, cerebellar, and brain stem signs. The entire brain and cervical spinal cord were small; there was no central nervous system malformation, hydrocephalus, or bony impingement on neural structures. Embryologic vascular disorders have been found to be responsible for various congenital systemic and neurologic anomalies such as intestinal atresia and hydranencephaly. Subclavian artery supply disruption sequence has been hypothesized to result in Klippel-Feil, Poland, and Möbius anomalies. In this case the vertebral and facial abnormalities may well be related to anomalous subclavian and carotid supply. An embryonic vascular "steal" has been thought to cause the sirenomelia anomaly. We postulate that the subclavian steal, during the embryonic period, may have been responsible for the small size of this patient's cerebral hemispheres, brain stem, cerebellum, and cervical spinal cord.

Subclavian artery supply disruption sequence: hypothesis of a vascular etiology for Poland, Klippel-Feil, and Möbius anomalies.

A hypothesis is presented to explain the pathogenesis of the Poland, Klippel-Feil, and Möbius anomalies, isolated absence of the pectoralis major with breast hypoplasia, isolated terminal transverse limb defects, and the Sprengel anomaly. We propose that these conditions are the result of an interruption of the early embryonic blood supply in the subclavian arteries, the vertebral arteries and/or their branches, and hypothesize that the occlusions occur at specific locations in these vessels during or around the sixth week of embryologic development and produce predictable patterns of defects. The term subclavian artery supply disruption sequence (SASDS) is suggested for the group of birth defects represented by the above conditions. Possible causes for interruption of embryonic blood supply are discussed.

Embryologic pathogenesis of renal agenesis associated with cervical vertebral anomalies (Klippel-Feil phenotype).

Existing embryologic data suggest that the blastema of the cervical vertebrae, scapulae, and the genitourinary system have an intimate spatial relationship at the end of the 4th or beginning of the 5th week of fetal life. An alteration in this region can affect the cervical vertebrae and scapulae directly, and the genitourologic changes are mediated indirectly through the inductive capacity of the pronephric duct. The genitourinary malformation documented in patients with a specified Klippel-Feil phenotype support such an embryologic pathogenesis. Urologic pathology, in both sexes, is consistent with partial or absent induction of ureteral bud formation, and genital pathology in the female reflects partial or complete failure of müllerian duct development. These data also suggest a more frequent bilateral occurrence of these anomalies; a phenomenon that, in its most severe form, would result in bilateral renal agenesis, as illustrated by the stillborn presented in this paper.