[Skip to Navigation]
Article
December 1976

Partial DiGeorge Syndrome or Branchial Dysembryogenesis?

Author Affiliations

BOY FRAME Fifth Medical Division Henry Ford Hospital 2799 W Grand Blvd Detroit, MI 48202

Am J Dis Child. 1976;130(12):1376-1377. doi:10.1001/archpedi.1976.02120130082023
Abstract

Sir.—Pabst et al recently reported in the Journal two cases of partial DiGeorge syndrome with substantial cell-mediated immunity (130:316, 1976). Their second case exhibited normal, although scanty, thymus tissue and normal lymph node tissue at autopsy. Associated anomalies from branchial levels other than the third and fourth levels were present in both cases described. Lip and external ear anomalies evolve from branchial level I and pulmonary artery anomalies evolve from branchial level VI.1 Since the DiGeorge syndrome is also called the "III and IV branchial pouch syndrome,"2.3 both terms are therefore misleading. In 1972,4 we reported on four patients with congenital hypoparathyroidism and associated anomalies of other branchial arches and pouches. One was an infant with a classical "DiGeorge syndrome" who died soon after birth. The most characteristic features in the other three patients, in addition to congenital hypoparathyroidism, were (1) a peculiar hypernasal speech resulting

Add or change institution
×