Presumptive Diagnosis of Pallister-Hall Syndrome Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Pallister-Hall syndrome (PHS) is an extremely rare genetic disorder for which the diagnosis is often overlooked. The objective of this case report is to highlight how clinical features used in conjunction with brain MRI findings can lead to an expeditious diagnosis without the need for invasive measures or genetic test results. We present the case of a three-day-old infant delivered at 34 and 4/7 weeks gestation who presented with mild respiratory distress and bilious emesis in the setting of an uncomplicated gestational course and vaginal delivery with no known teratogen exposure. A diagnosis of Pallister-Hall syndrome was made on the basis of physical exam findings, hormonal abnormalities and the identification of a hypothalamic hamartoma on brain MRI. The patient underwent multiple procedures for diagnosis and management of PHS complications, including a diverting jejunostomy for a long-segment Hirschsprung's and a laryngoscopy which identified a bifid epiglottis. The patient tolerated the interventions and did not have seizures on admission. The MRI brain detection of a hypothalamic hamartoma led to an earlier diagnosis of Pallister-Hall syndrome and thus further screening and identification of complications associated with this disorder were performed before genetic analyses or brain biopsies were obtained. Given the unique MRI features of hypothalamic hamartomas, brain MRI can be a useful tool for making an early PHS diagnosis when taken with clinical features concerning possible PHS.