Gonadal pathology in triploidy.

There are numerous reports describing the pathology of the fetus and placenta in triploidy. Although gonadal pathology is described in many of these reports, consistent changes have not been noted nor is it clear whether genital ambiguity can be considered part of the triploid phenotype. We present a case of triploidy of probable diandric origin, in which there were dysgenetic gonads with abnormal seminiferous tubules, nodules of undifferentiated stroma, and focal absence of the tunica albuginea. As this finding was distinctly unusual in our experience of triploid gonadal pathology, we reviewed the gonadal histology in 51 fetal and infant triploids examined in our autopsy/embryopathology laboratory. The gonads were compared to age-matched normal controls to determine if there was a specific gonadal pathology associated with triploidy and if there was any correlation of this pathology with parental origin of the triploidy. Our review of the triploid gonads indicated that while minor, nonspecific changes were not uncommon, overtly dysgenetic gonads, as observed in the index case, are rare.

Renal tubular dysgenesis with calvarial hypoplasia: report of two additional cases and review.

We report two cases of renal tubular dysgenesis (RTD) with calvarial hypoplasia and review the originally reported cases of RTD that came from our institution and published reports regarding the association of RTD and skull abnormalities. Although previously reported in association with RTD, calvarial hypoplasia is probably under-recognised. The cases reported here support the idea that the skull abnormalities observed in the inherited form of renal tubular dysgenesis are a common component of the disorder, as they are in the acquired form of RTD associated with maternal use of ACE inhibitors. Renewed attention to this clinical manifestation of RTD may be important in suggesting the diagnosis before death, providing more complete information to parents and physicians facing important management decisions and ensuring appropriate pathological examination postmortem.

Placental pathology of triploidy.

Triploidy is a common chromosome abnormality in spontaneous abortions. Previous studies of spontaneous abortions have suggested that approximately 85% of triploid abortuses show the placental changes of partial hydatidiform mole (PHM) and that this appearance was associated, possibly attributable, to paternal origin of the extra haploid set of chromosomes. More recent work, however, has shown that most triploidy is the result of digyny--the extra set of chromosomes originating from the mother. Given the association of PHM with diandry, these results would appear to be at odds with the results of previous studies of placental morphology in triploids. The authors reviewed the placental pathology of all cases of triploidy examined at their institution over a 2-year period and established that PHM occurs in a minority of triploid conceptuses. These results support the findings of studies showing that digyny is the most common origin of triploidy.

Gonadal tumors in disorders of sexual differentiation.

OBJECTIVE: To study the prevalence and distribution of gonadal tumors in patients with disorders of sexual differentiation. METHODS: Retrospective review of pathologic materials and clinical data on all patients diagnosed with mixed gonadal dysgenesis, pure gonadal dysgenesis, androgen insensitivity, and true hermaphroditism between 1982 and 1990. RESULTS: Twenty-one patients were identified and all underwent bilateral gonadectomy at the time of diagnosis. Nine of 21 patients had a gonadal tumor for a prevalence of 44 percent. Those at greatest risk for tumor were patients with mixed gonadal dysgenesis (6 of 11 patients) and pure gonadal dysgenesis (2 of 3 patients). There were four gonadoblastomas, two dysgerminomas, and one each of teratocarcinoma, seminoma, cystadenofibroma, and juvenile granulosa cell tumor. CONCLUSIONS: The high prevalence of gonadal tumors in children with mixed and pure gonadal dysgenesis warrants consideration of early, bilateral, prophylactic gonadectomy once the diagnosis is established with certainty.

The ocular pathology of trisomy 22: report of two cases and review.

Two cases of full trisomy 22 with the associated gross and microscopic pathology are reported. These cases demonstrate the typical craniofacial and organ system anomalies previously reported in trisomy 22 but also exhibit uveal colobomas that, within the spectrum of chromosome 22 anomalies, are usually restricted to the so-called "cat eye" syndrome. The attendant microscopic ocular findings represent, the best of our knowledge, the first such report in the literature.

Trisomy 4 in acute nonlymphocytic leukemia.

Trisomy 4 has recently been identified as a nonrandom chromosomal abnormality associated with acute nonlymphocytic leukemia with myelomonocytic morphology (AML M4). It has been suggested that it may be related to a new type of environmental toxin exposure. During the 1975-1987 period we have detected only one case of simple trisomy 4 in over 1200 patients successfully investigated for hematologic malignancy; this patient was diagnosed as having AML M2 and did not have a history of toxic chemical or drug exposure.

Partial trisomy chromosome 5 cosegregating with schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia was associated with a distinct autosomal abnormality in two related mildly dysmorphic individuals. The finding of cosegregation of schizophrenia and a partial trisomy of chromosome 5 in the family suggests a potential location of a gene or genes linked to schizophrenia.

Dicentric Y chromosome and mixed dysgenesis.

We report 4 cases of mixed gonadal dysgenesis with a karyotype containing a dicentric Y chromosome. All cases were mosaic with 45X and 46X, dic(Y) cell lines. Of the patients 1 had ambiguous genitalia and some features of Turner's syndrome, 2 had classical features of Turner's syndrome with normal female external genitalia and 1 had no features of Turner's syndrome but he presented with penoscrotal hypospadias, inguinal hernia and cryptorchidism. Female gender assignment and early total gonadectomy should be considered when a dicentric Y chromosome is present in cases of mixed gonadal dysgenesis.

Klinefelter's syndrome and acute leukemia.

Klinefelter's syndrome is associated with an increased risk of certain types of cancer. A small number of reports have documented the occurrence of acute leukemia in these patients. Our review of 1200 consecutive patients investigated cytogenetically for actual or suspected hematologic malignancy revealed only one patient with acute leukemia and the 47,XXY syndrome. This finding suggests that the risk of acute leukemia in Klinefelter's patients is no greater than that of the general population.

Cytogenetic findings in 318 couples with repeated spontaneous abortion: a review of experience in British Columbia.

We studied G-banded chromosome complements on 318 couples with 2 or more spontaneous abortions. Seven chromosome abnormalities were detected. Three women and one man were identified as carriers of balanced Robertsonian translocations, t(13;14), t(13;14), t(13;21), and t(14;22), respectively. Aneuploidy: 47,XXX; 47,XX, + marker; and 45,X/46,XX/47,XXX were found in the other 3 women. The overall aberration frequency was 2.2% of couples. When a stringent criterion of greater than or equal to 3 consecutive spontaneous abortions was used, the frequency was 4.2%. In this series no chromosome aberrations were identified in couples with 2 spontaneous abortions and a live-born child with congenital anomalies; 1 of 22 couples with 2 spontaneous abortions and a still-born infant showed a chromosomal abnormality. Findings from the recent literature are compared with those from this study.

Possible new autosomal recessive syndrome with unusual renal histopathological changes.

We report a couple with repeated pregnancy loss--two spontaneous first trimester abortions and two stillbirths with diffuse hypoplasia of the renal tubules. Both parents have been investigated to exclude occult unilateral renal agenesis. We raise the possibility that this is a new autosomal recessive condition.