Costello syndrome

Noonan-like syndrome with nasal papillomata

The vast majority of cases are sporadic. An increase in mean paternal age has been demonstrated, favouring the hypothesis of dominant de novo mutations, but a microdeletion is an alternative explanation.

218040

D056685

3071 Costello syndrome

C0587248

Costello syndrome is characterised by

Growth abnormalities: whereas new-born are often macrosomic and macrocephalic they exhibit severe feeding difficulties and failure to thrive during the first months of life, up to two years of age. After this marasmic period, growth velocity is restored but the final height is short.

Ectodermal abnormalities are characterised by loose and dark-coloured skin, and a predisposition to develop multiple papillomata, which when present are highly suggestive of the diagnosis.

Mental retardation is usually mild and most patients with CS have an happy, ongoing personality.

Heart defects are present in one third of patients, either structural defects, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy or dysarrythmia.

Patients with Costello syndrome are prone to develop both benign and malignant tumours. The risk of developing a cancer is up to 15%. Rhabdomyosarcoma, mostly of the embryonic subtype is the tumor the most frequently encountered in CS. Neuroblastomaand bladder cancer (very rare in children) have also been described in several patients.

Symptomatic: surgery of congenital heart defects or tumors; tube feeding during the first months.

Apart from mental retardation, the prognosis of patients with Costello syndrome depends mainly on the occurrence of cardiac and\/or tumoral complications.

Unknown.