Association of microcephaly and cafe-au-lait spots in a patient with ring chromosome 12 syndrome

We describe a patient who was evaluated because of delayed development. The patient had microcephaly and cafe-au-lait spots and the facial features included upward slanting of the palpebral fissures, short nasal bridge and a highly arched palate. In addition the external ears had bilateral over folded helices, there was clinodactyly of the fourth and fifth fingers and multiple cafe-au-lait spots on the back, buttocks and thighs. Chromosomal analysis of peripheral blood showed 46,XY, - r(12)(p13.3q24.33)[73]/45,XY, - 12[8]/47,XYr(12)(p13.3q24.33), + r(12)(p13.3q24.33) [2]. This is the eighth case of a patient with a ring chromosome 12 to be reported so far. The similarity of our patient to those previously described suggests that the ring chromosome 12 syndrome can be delineated as a distinct entity with characteristic clinical features.