Diagnostic hand anomalies in Smith-Magenis syndrome: four new patients with del (17)(p11.2p11.2)

We report clinical and cytogenetic findings of 4 children (2 boys and 2 girls) with the Smith-Magenis syndrome. All 4 patients had an interstitial deletion of 17p: del(17) (p11.2p11.2). Their clinical manifestations included brachycephaly, midface hypoplasia, prognathism, upper lip eversion, short and broad hands with short fingers, clinodactyly of the fifth fingers, fingertip pads, moderate mental retardation, and behavior problems. Analysis of the metacarpophalangeal pattern profiles in patient 2 showed progressive shortness from the metacarpals to the proximal, middle, and the distal phalanges. The fingerpads observed in all 4 patients have hitherto been noted in only one of 26 previously reported patients with the syndrome. These findings serve as a useful clue to the diagnosis of the syndrome.