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Background: A radiologic diagnosis of hypochondroplasia is hampered by the absence of age-dependent radiologic criteria, particularly in the neonatal period.Objective: To establish radiologic criteria and scoring system for identifying neonates with fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3)-associated hypochondroplasia.Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 7 hypochondroplastic neonates and 30 controls. All subjects underwent radiologic examination within 28 days after birth. We evaluated parameters reflecting the presence of (1) short ilia, (2) squared ilia, (3) short greater sciatic notch, (4) horizontal acetabula, (5) short femora, (6) broad femora, (7) metaphyseal flaring, (8) lumbosacral interpedicular distance narrowing and (9) ovoid radiolucency of the proximal femora.Results: Only parameters 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6 were statistically different between the two groups. Parameters 3, 5 and 6 did not overlap between the groups, while parameters 1 and 4 did. Based on these results, we propose a scoring system for hypochondroplasia. Two major criteria (parameters 3 and 6) were assigned scores of 2, whereas 4 minor criteria (parameters 1, 4, 5 and 9) were assigned scores of 1. All neonates with hypochondroplasia in our material scored ≥6.Conclusion: Our set of diagnostic radiologic criteria might be useful for early identification of hypochondroplastic neonates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Syndromic craniosynostoses usually occur as single gene disorders. In this study, we analyzed FGFR1-3 genes in four patients with Crouzon syndrome (CS), four patients with Pfeiffer syndrome type 2 (PS-2), one patient with Jackson-Weiss syndrome (JWS), and two patients (sisters) with Muenke syndrome (MS). FGFR2 and FGFR3 mutations were identified in 10 of the 11 patients. Notably, we found a novel FGFR2 p.Asn549Thr mutation in a patient with CS, and a novel FGFR2 p.Ser347Cys mutation in a patient with JWS (thus, this patient was turned out to have an FGFR2-related PS-variant). We also identified an FGFR2 p.Ser252Leu mutation in a phenotypically normal father of a daughter with CS, and an FGFR3 p.Pro250Arg mutation in a mildly macrocephalic father of sisters with MS. These findings, together with previous data, imply that the same FGFR2 mutations can be associated with a wide range of phenotypes including clinically different forms of syndromic craniosynostosis and apparently normal phenotype, depending on other (epi)genetic and environmental factors. Thus, genetic studies are recommended not only for obviously affected individuals but also for family members with apparently normal phenotype or non-specific subtle abnormal phenotype, to allow for pertinent genetic counseling. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., (© 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)