Pre- and postnatal findings in trisomy 17 mosaicism

Trisomy 17 mosaicism is one of the rarest autosomal trisomies in humans. Thus far, only 23 cases have been described, most of them detected prenatally. In only five instances has mosaicism been demonstrated in lymphocytes and/or fibroblasts postnatally, and only in these have multiple congenital anomalies (MCA), facial dysmorphisms, and mental retardation been reported. Patients with trisomy 17 mosaicism at amniocentesis and a normal karyotype in blood and fibroblasts (n = 17) were always healthy. Here, we report on pre- and postnatal clinical, cytogenetic, molecular-cytogenetic, and molecular findings in four patients with trisomy 17 mosaicism. The first case was detected in cultured but not in short-term chorionic villi and amniocytes. Due to MCA on prenatal ultrasound examination the pregnancy was terminated. The second patient is a 13-month-old healthy boy, in whom low level trisomy 17 mosaicism was detected in cultured chorionic villi only. The third patient is a 2-year-old girl with growth retardation, developmental delay, MCA, and trisomy 17 mosaicism in amniocytes, fibroblasts, and placenta, but not in blood and buccal smear. The fourth patient is a 9-year-old boy with growth and mental retardation, sensoneurinal hearing loss, and MCA. Cytogenetic analyses showed trisomy 17 mosaicism in amniocytes, skin fibroblasts, and urinary sediment cells, whereas in blood and buccal smear a 46,XY karyotype was found. Molecular investigations in all four cases indicated biparental inheritance of chromosome 17. Formation of trisomy was most likely due to a maternal meiosis I error in Patient 1 and a postzygotic non-disjunction of the paternal chromosome 17 in Patient 4. Cerebellar malformations, reported in two cases from the literature and in two reported here may be a specific feature of trisomy 17 mosaicism. Since the aberration has rarely been reported in lymphocytes, chordocentesis is not indicated in prenatal diagnosis. Prenatal genetic counseling for trisomy 17 mosaicism in chorionic villi or amniocytes should consider that the clinical significance remains uncertain.     

Mosaic trisomy 17 in amniocytes: phenotypic outcome, tissue distribution, and uniparental disomy studies.

Mosaicism for trisomy 17 in amniocyte cultures is a rare finding, whilst postnatal cases are exceptional. In order to gain insight into the possible effects of the distribution of the trisomic line and of uniparental disomy (UPD) on embryofoetal development, we have performed follow-up clinical, cytogenetic and molecular investigations into three newly detected prenatal cases of trisomy 17 mosaicism identified in cultured amniotic fluid. In the first case, the pregnancy ended normally with the birth of a healthy girl, and analysis of newborn lymphocytes and of multiple extra-embryonic tissues was indicative of confined placental mosaicism. The second case was also associated with a normal pregnancy outcome and postnatal development, and only euploid cells were found in peripheral blood after birth. However, maternal isodisomy 17 consequent to a meiosis II error and loss of a chromosome 17 homologue was detected in peripheral lymphocytes postnatally. In the third case, pathological examination after termination of pregnancy showed growth retardation and minor dysmorphisms, and the trisomic line was detected in foetal skin fibroblasts. In addition, biparental derivation of chromosome 17 was demonstrated in the euploid lineage. These results, together with previously reported data, indicate that true amniotic trisomy 17 mosaicism is more commonly of extra-embryonic origin and associated with normal foetal development. Phenotypic consequences may arise when the trisomic line is present in foetal tissues. Case 2 also represents the first observation of maternal UPD involving chromosome 17; the absence of phenotypic anomalies in the child suggests that chromosome 17 is not likely to be subject to imprinting in maternal gametes.     

Blaschkolinear malformation syndrome in complex trisomy-7 mosaicism

Results of repeated peripheral blood chromosome studies were normal in a boy with intrauterine growth retardation, short stature, moderate mental retardation, and multiple minor anomalies. At age 9 years it was recognized that the swirls of pigmentation/depigmentation on his trunk, linear streaks on his limbs, and body asymmetry were suggestive of chromosomal mosaicism. Four skin biopsies were obtained under anesthesia during a dental procedure. All showed mosaicism for a normal cell line, a line with an extra chromosome 7, and a cell line with an extra small ring. In one biopsy, there was a fourth cell line with an extra chromosome 7 and the ring. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with a chromosome 7 paint confirmed trisomy 7 and the chromosome 7 derivation of the ring. This young man's intra-uterine and postnatal growth retardation is an aneuploidy effect, whereas his asymmetry reflects a mosaicism effect that should have aroused suspicion of tissue-limited mosaicism before the development of obvious Blaschkolinear skin pigmentary dysplasia.     

Pigmentary mosaicism following the lines of Blaschko in a girl with a double aneuploidy mosaicism: (47,XX,+7/45,X)

We report on a 6-year-old girl with linear streaks of apparent hypopigmentation and hyperpigmentation following the Blaschko lines, growth retardation, bupthalmos of the left eye, and mild mental retardation. She had a 45,X karyotype in lymphocytes. In cultured fibroblasts a double aneuploidy mosaicism was detected, consisting of a cell line with trisomy for chromosome 7 and a cell line with monosomy for the X-chromosome and no cell line with a normal karyotype. Cutis tricolor or three levels of pigmentation in different skin areas suggested presence of a third, probably normal cell line. Double aneuploidy mosaicism of a cell line with monosomy X and a cell line with trisomy of an autosome is a rare finding. The combination of monosomy X with trisomy of chromosomes 8, 10, 13, 18, and 21 has been reported, but not the combination with trisomy 7. In the 45,X cell line, microsatellite analysis showed loss of the maternal X-chromosome, and presence of a maternal and paternal chromosome 7. The 47,XX,+7 cell line showed a paternal and a maternal X-chromosome, and a paternal and two identical maternal chromosomes 7. Mechanisms that might explain this double aneuploidy mosaicism are discussed.     

Trisomy 7 mosaicism prenatally misdiagnosed and maternal uniparental disomy in a child with pigmentary mosaicism and Russell- Silver syndrome

Prenatal diagnosis of true mosaic trisomy 7 is rare in amniotic fluid and can be misinterpreted as pseudomosaic. The phenotype is highly variable and may be modified by a maternal uniparental disomy of chromosome 7 leading to mild Russell-Silver syndrome (RSS). We report here the third postnatal case of mosaic trisomy 7 with maternal uniparental disomy of chromosome 7 in a boy presenting a mild RSS. Fetal karyotype performed in amniocentesis for intrauterine growth retardation was considered normal. Mosaic trisomy 7 was diagnosed after birth, on fibroblasts karyotype performed for blaschkolinear pigmentary skin anomalies and failure to thrive. Maternal uniparental disomy of chromosome 7 was observed in blood sample. Retrospectively, trisomic 7 cells were identified in one prenatal long-term flask culture revealing a prenatal diagnosis failure. This report emphasizes the difficulty of assessing fetal mosaicism and distinguishing it from pseudomosaicism in cultured amniocytes. It is important to search for uniparental disomy as an indirect clue of trisomy 7 mosaicism and a major prognosis element. Although there are only few prenatal informative cases, detection of trisomy 7 in amniocentesis appears to be associated with a relatively good outcome when maternal uniparental disomy has been ruled out.     

Prenatal diagnosis of chromosome 4 mosaicism: prognostic role of cytogenetic, molecular, and ultrasound/MRI characterization

Trisomy 4 mosaicism is extremely rare: herein we report the cytogenetic and molecular characterization and prenatal US findings of a case diagnosed prenatally. The diagnosis of level III mosaicism was established in cultured amniotic fluid cells (22.5%). At 22 weeks gestation, micrognathia and hypotelorism were suspected at 2-D sonography, and confirmed at 3-D examination. In addition, 2-D US showed cerebellar hypoplasia associated with borderline ventriculomegaly (confirmed at magnetic resonance imaging, MRI), spine deformity (hemivertebra), and a complete atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD). The pregnancy was terminated. Trisomy 4 mosaicism was confirmed in placental and fetal skin cultured cells. The cord blood karyotype was normal. Molecular analysis excluded uniparental disomy of chromosome 4, and indicated that the trisomy 4 was of maternal meiotic origin. In presence of chromosome 4 mosaicism, accurate fetal sonography and echocardiography are mandatory. Low level mosaicism and normal echographic examinations seem to be associated with good prognosis. In postnatal life, chromosome 4 mosaicism should be suspected, and cytogenetic analysis proposed of further tissues (i.e., skin), in presence of craniofacial dysmorphism, cardiac defects, and abnormal hands/feet, even if mental development is appropriate or only slightly impaired.     

Mosaic trisomy 22: A case presentation and literature review of trisomy 22 phenotypes

In a case of mosaic trisomy 22 the trisomic cells were detected primarily in fibroblasts. Results of initial lymphocyte chromosome analysis were normal. However, mosaicism was suspected because the patient had hypomelanosis of Ito, hemiatrophy, failure to thrive, and mental retardation. Mosaicism was confirmed in cultured fibroblasts. Repeat cytogenetic analysis of peripheral blood demonstrated a low level of trisomic metaphase cells, which was confirmed by interphase fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis. Molecular studies supported maternal disomy in the child's disomic cells. The phenotype of this condition overlaps that of non-mosaic trisomy 22 chromosome mosaicism in general and to some extent the Ullrich-Turner syndrome phenotype. Improved cytogenetic and molecular techniques now allow better delineation of aneuploidy syndromes. Molecular and FISH studies added information about this case (mosaicism and uniparental disomy) not appreciated by routine cytogenetic analysis of lymphocytes. The detection of low-level mosaicism and/or uniparental disomy in such cases may change the clinical classification and our understanding of pathogenesis and recurrence risk of these disorders. Am. J. Med. Genet. 71:406–413, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Maternal uniparental isodisomy 20 in a foetus with trisomy 20 mosaicism: clinical,cytogenetic and molecular analysis

The clinical significance of trisomy 20 mosaicism detected prenatally remains uncertain due to the rarity of liveborn cases with inconsistent clinical findings, and lack of long-term follow-up and outcome. We describe a case of true trisomy 20 mosaicism in a liveborn girl with maternal uniparental isodisomy of chromosome 20 in the diploid blood cells. Trisomy 20 mosaicism was originally detected in amniotic fluid (98%) and was confirmed in the term placenta (100%), as well as in the blood (10%) and urine sediment (100%) of the neonate. There was intrauterine and postnatal growth retardation, but otherwise the newborn manifested no gross abnormalities. At 9 months of age moderate psychomotor retardation, central hypotonia with peripheral hypertonia, numerous minor morphogenetic variants, marked kyphosis, and extensive Mongolian spot were observed. To our knowledge this represents the first case of trisomy 20 mosaicism detected prenatally and confirmed in different tissues of the newborn, where uniparental disomy was demonstrated in the diploid cell line. The clinical and laboratory findings in our patient are compared with those of five previously reported cases of UPD20, suggesting that maternal UPD20 might be associated with a characteristic phenotype.     

Unilateral radial aplasia and trisomy 22 mosaicism.

A child with unilateral radial aplasia, asymmetry, other malformations, and severe physical and mental retardation is reported. In blood and bone marrow cultures a low mosaicism for trisomy 22 was found. In a few cells a chromosome 22 was missing. The importance of early cytogenetic analysis on large numbers of cells is emphasised, especially in cases of asymmetry where mosaicism is suspected.     

Mosaic trisomy 17: variable clinical and cytogenetic presentation

Mosaic trisomy 17 is rare with only 28 cases reported and the clinical presentation is highly variable. The diagnosis is most commonly made by prenatal karyotype and in most cases is followed by a normal postnatal karyotype on blood lymphocytes.We present two cases of mosaic trisomy 17 diagnosed prenatally,with follow up in multiple tissues at birth. In the first case,trisomy 17 was identified in all amniocytes, and at birth standard results of chromosome analysis in peripheral blood were normal,but mosaic trisomy 17 was identified (50–75%) in skin fibroblasts by genome-wide SNP array analysis. This patient presented with congenital heart disease, asymmetry, intestinal malrotation, and other anomalies and died on day 9 of life. In the second patient amniocentesis after ultrasound finding of tetralogy of Fallot showed mosaic trisomy 17. Postnatally, results of a SNP array were normal in blood, buccal mucosa, and skin. It is possible that the cardiac defect is related to trisomy 17 in key tissues during heart development, although at birth the aneuploidy could not be identified in tissues that are routinely analyzed for diagnosis. These cases add to our understanding of mosaic trisomy 17, highlighting the failure to diagnose this aneuploidy in peripheral blood.     

Molecular and cytogenetic characterisation of an unusual case of partial trisomy/partial monosomy 13 mosaicism: 46,XX,r(13)(p11q14)/46,XX,der(13)t(13;13)(q10;q14)

A female infant with multiple malformations and mental retardation was noted to have a rare de novo chromosome abnormality involving mosaicism with two cell lines, one with a ring chromosome 13, and the other with partial trisomy 13 owing to a complex rearrangement. Cytogenetic examination excluded the presence of a t(13q;13q) cell line and showed a cell line with a marker chromosome containing two chromosome 13 long arms joined together after deletion of a part (q11→q14) of one of them. In addition, the absence of a cell line with two normal chromosomes 13 or a cell line with a t(13q;13q) implies that the ring (13) and the marker (13) arose from a single event at the first cleavage division.
The two cell lines were present in different proportions in both peripheral blood lymphocytes and skin fibroblasts. The results of microsatellite characterisation clearly indicate the paternal origin and the absence of recombination, supporting the postzygotic origin of both the ring and the marker chromosome.


Keywords: unusual mosaicism; ring 13; partial trisomy 13; partial monosomy 13     

Prenatal detection of double aneuploidy trisomy 10/monosomy X in a liveborn twin with exclusively monosomy X in blood

Both double aneuploidy and trisomy 10 are rare chromosome findings. All five published cases of trisomy 10 in liveborns were found to be mosaic with an euploid cell line. In a liveborn female twin, double aneuploidy mosaicism 47,XX, + 10/45,X was detected prenatally by amniocentesis performed because of severe intrauterine growth retardation and malformations. Chromosome analysis from neonatal lymphocyte cultures revealed exclusively the 45,X cell line. Double aneuploidy mosaicism trisomy 10/monosomy X was confirmed from skin fibroblasts. The child died at the age of 7 weeks. This is the first reported case of double aneuploidy involving trisomy 10, and the first case of trisomy 10 without a normal cell line in a liveborn. Prenatal diagnosis of trisomy 10 in a liveborn has not been published so far. The case illustrates that in specific cases amniotic fluid cells may reflect the karyotype of the fetus better than blood.     

Trisomy 14 mosaicism: case report and review.

Complete or partial trisomy 14 is compatible with life. However, in the former case, mosaicism is probably always present. A case of trisomy 14 mosaicism is reported. Comparisons are made with other trisomy 14, trisomy 14 mosaicism, and duplication 14q cases previously reported. As a group, they share some clinical manifestations. The phenotype consists of multiple congenital anomalies, including microcephaly, broad nose, wide mouth, high or cleft palate, micrognathia, congenital heart disease, intrauterine growth retardation, and mental retardation. The present patient also has asthma, eczema, and developmental asymmetry.     

Trisomy 14 mosaicism: Case report and review

Complete or partial trisomy 14 is compatible with life. However, in the former case, mosaicism is probably always present. A case of trisomy 14 mosaicism is reported. Comparisons are made with other trisomy 14, trisomy 14 mosaicism, and duplication 14q cases previously reported. As a group, they share some clinical manifestations. The phenotype consists of multiple congenital anomalies, including microcephaly, broad nose, wide mouth, high or cleft palate, micrognathia, congenital heart disease, intrauterine growth retardation, and mental retardation. The present patient also has asthma, eczema, and developmental asymmetry.     

A molecular, cytogenetic, and clinical evaluation of mosaic tandem duplication 17p and Charcot-Marie-Tooth type 1A neuropathy.

An 8 year old girl with partial duplication of the short arm of chromosome 17 had a mosaic 46,XX,der(17)?del(17)(p12)dup(17) (p11.2p12).ish dup(17)(p11.2p13.3)(D17S 379x2, p53x2, D17S122x2, D17S29+) karyotype. The extent of mosaicism was 20% in lymphoblasts and 100% in fibroblasts. Fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) proved invaluable in defining the abnormality precisely. The cytogenetic morphology by FISH assay ruled out a microdeletion of the Miller-Dieker syndrome (MDS) region. However, there was no MDS deletion but a duplication of this region. The duplication was extensive and included proximal p53 and D17S122, Charcot-Marie-Tooth type 1A (CMT1A), but not D17S29, the Smith-Magenis syndrome (SMS) region. This patient has the clinical features and generalised decreased peripheral nerve conduction velocity characteristic of CMT1A. The clinical management of paediatric cases of mosaic trisomy 17p cases would ential testing for CMT1A duplication. If duplicated, a decrease in nerve conduction velocity (NCV) of the peripheral motor neurones would be necessary to ensure the manifestation of CMT1A neuropathy. The parents of probands with delayed NCV should be counselled about the risk of CMT1A in later life.     

Interphase-FISH study in three patients with tetraploid/diploid mosaicism

We report tetraploid/diploid mosaicism in a boy and two girls detected by cultured skin fibroblasts. In all these children, interphase-FISH using DXZ1 probe confirmed the original karyotype. Tetraploid mosaicism was also confirmed by alpha-satellite probes from chromosomes 2, 6, 7, 9, 10, 17, 18 and Y in fibroblasts from the boy. The common features in these children are failure to thrive, slight mental deficiency and some degree of body asymmetry. The advantage of using interphase-FISH is the possibility of analysing a great number of cells in short time, thus giving a more precise percentage with regard to abnormal cells.     

Unusual cytogenetic mosaicism involving chromosome 14 abnormalities in a child with an MR/MCA syndrome and abnormal pigmentation

An 8-year-old female child with mental retardation (MR), multiple congenital anomalies (MCA) and irregular pigmentation was shown to have karyotypic mosaicism involving chromosome 14 abnormalities. Four cell lines were found in both peripheral blood lymphocytes and skin fibroblasts and were represented by: a normal karyotype, an isopseudodicentric 14q [iso psu dic(14)], a ring 14 [r(14)], and a monosomy 14 [mono(14)]. Our results are compared with reported cases involving multiple abnormalities of specific chromosomes. Karyotypic mosaicism of comparable chromosome 14 abnormalities is rare, with only one known previous case. Detailed analysis of karyotypic mosaicism of rare chromosomal abnormalities is essential to determine meaningful correlations with specific patterns of malformation.     

Trisomy 14 mosaicism in a 2 year old girl.

Trisomy 14 mosaicism with 6% trisomic cells in blood and 16% in skin fibroblasts was found in a 2 year 2 month old girl with mild psychomotor retardation, craniofacial dysmorphism, pectus carinatum, curved fifth fingers, retarded bone age, and signs of an ASD. These findings are consistent with the previously reported cases of trisomy 14 mosaicism and support the suggested existence of a distinctive syndrome. Non-disjunction studies showed that the extra chromosome 14 originated from either a second paternal meiotic error or an early mitotic error.     

Dilemma of trisomy 20 mosaicism detected prenatally: Is it an innocent finding?

The clinical significance of mosaicism trisomy 20 detected prenatally following amniocentesis remains uncertain, due to the rarity of liveborn cases with inconsistent clinical findings, the short postnatal follow-up, and failure in evaluating other fetal tissues for the presence of the trisomy. We report on a 15 month-old 46,XX chromosome constitution in white blood cells, while skin fibroblasts demonstrated trisomy 20 mosaicism (54%) by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis. Clinical examination of the baby showed only minor phenotypic signs (bilateral epicanthal folds, delayed closure of fontanel with no other gross anomalies), but demonstrated a considerable developmental delay in gross and fine motor skills along with hypotonicity. This is the second oldest described liveborn with trisomy 20 mosaicism confirmed in skin fibroblasts. This cytogenetic aberration along with her developmental delay suggests that the two findings are related and that aberration affects various fetal tissues and is not confined to extra-embryonic tissue as suggested previously. Yet, an undiagnosed condition may be the cause of the child's developmental delay. Based on this case and following a review of the literature we suggest that when mosaic trisomy 20 is identified in amniocytes, further evaluation is required. Cord blood should be analyzed preferably by FISH. During counseling the parents should be advised of an additional risk, such as developmental delay, even when fetal cord karyotype and detailed ultrasonic scan are normal. Am. J. Med. Genet. 77:72–75, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.