McCune–Albright syndrome (MAS) is a rare sporadic condition defined by the classic triad of fibrous dysplasia of bone, café au lait skin macules, and hyperfunctioning endocrinopathies. The molecular basis of MAS has been ascribed to the post-zygotic somatic gain-of-function mutations in the GNAS gene, which encodes the alpha subunit of G proteins, leading to constitutive activation of several G Protein-Coupled Receptors (GPCRs). The co-occurrence of two of the above-mentioned cardinal clinical manifestations sets the diagnosis at the clinical level. In this case report, we describe a 27-month-old girl who presented with gonadotropin-independent precocious puberty secondary to an estrogen-secreting ovarian cyst, a café au lait skin macule and growth hormone, and prolactin excess, and we provide an updated review of the scientific literature on the clinical features, diagnostic work-up, and therapeutic management of MAS.
Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS) is a rare pediatric overgrowth disorder with a variable clinical phenotype caused by deregulation affecting imprinted genes in the chromosomal region 11p15. Alterations of the imprinting control region 1 (ICR1) at the IGF2/H19 locus resulting in biallelic expression of IGF2 and biallelic silencing of H19 account for approximately 10% of patients with BWS. The majority of these patients have epimutations of the ICR1 without detectable DNA sequence changes. Only a few patients were found to have deletions. Most of these deletions are small affecting different parts of the ICR1 differentially methylated region (ICR1-DMR) removing target sequences for CTCF. Only a very few deletions reported so far include the H19 gene in addition to the CTCF binding sites. None of these deletions include IGF2. A male patient was born with hypotonia, facial dysmorphisms and hypoglycemia suggestive of Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome. Using methylation-specific (MS)-MLPA (Multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification) we have identified a maternally inherited large deletion of the ICR1 region in a patient and his mother. The deletion results in a variable clinical expression with a classical BWS in the mother and a more severe presentation of BWS in her son. By genome-wide SNP array analysis the deletion was found to span ~100 kb genomic DNA including the ICR1DMR, H19, two adjacent non-imprinted genes and two of three predicted enhancer elements downstream to H19. Methylation analysis by deep bisulfite next generation sequencing revealed hypermethylation of the maternal allele at the IGF2 locus in both, mother and child, although IGF2 is not affected by the deletion. We here report on a novel large familial deletion of the ICR1 region in a BWS family. Due to the deletion of the ICR1-DMR CTCF binding cannot take place and the residual enhancer elements have access to the IGF2 promoters. The aberrant methylation (hypermethylation) of the maternal IGF2 allele in both affected family members may reflect the active state of the normally silenced maternal IGF2 copy and can be a consequence of the deletion. The deletion results in a variable clinical phenotype and expression.
3 March 2025 in European Journal of Paediatric Neurology
Background and Clinical Significance: Annular pancreas is a rare congenital anomaly in which pancreatic tissue partially or completely encircles the duodenum, potentially causing duodenal obstruction. Clinical presentation varies from asymptomatic cases to persistent vomiting, feeding intolerance, and failure to thrive, often leading to delayed diagnosis. Case Presentation: We report a 2-year and 10-month-old girl with a long-standing history of intermittent, recurrent vomiting since the neonatal period, without growth impairment or other alarming symptoms. Initial imaging suggested proximal duodenal dilation, with suspicion for superior mesenteric artery (SMA) syndrome. Endoscopy revealed mechanical obstruction at the second portion of the duodenum. Contrast-enhanced CT confirmed annular pancreas partially encircling the duodenum. The patient underwent duodeno-duodenostomy with an uneventful postoperative course and complete resolution of symptoms. This case illustrates the diagnostic challenges of annular pancreas in older children with atypical presentations. Multimodal imaging is crucial for accurate diagnosis. Surgical bypass remains the definitive treatment, offering excellent long-term outcomes. Conclusions: Persistent or recurrent vomiting in children, even without classic signs such as bilious vomiting or failure to thrive, should prompt consideration of annular pancreas. Early recognition and timely surgical intervention can prevent prolonged morbidity and ensure normal growth and development.