Table 2.

Disorders That Can Exhibit Features of Poikiloderma to Consider in the Differential Diagnosis of Rothmund-Thomson Syndrome (RTS)

DisorderGene(s)MOIOverlapping Clinical Features of DisorderDistinguishing Clinical Features of Disorder
Bloom syndrome 1 BLM AR
  • Rash characterized by an erythematous, sun-sensitive lesion of the face; not true poikiloderma
  • Loss of lower eyelashes & blister & fissure formation of lower lip common
  • Café au lait macules or paired hypopigmented & hyperpigmented macules in some
  • Most common cause of death: cancer (at younger-than-usual ages)
  • Severe pre- & postnatal growth deficiency w/↓ subcutaneous fat
  • Recurrent infections (otitis media & pneumonia)
  • Chronic pulmonary disease
  • Diabetes mellitus
Werner syndrome WRN AR
  • Initial findings (usually in 3rd decade): loss & graying of hair, alopecia, scleroderma-like skin changes
  • Skin ulcers (4th decade)
  • Cancer predisposition
  • Premature appearance of features assoc w/normal aging
  • Normal development until end of 1st decade
  • 1st symptom: no growth spurt during early teen years
  • Initial signs: (3rd decade) hoarseness followed by bilateral ocular cataracts, type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypogonadism, & osteoporosis in 4th decade
Ataxia-telangiectasia ATM AR
  • ↑ risk of malignancy, particularly leukemia & lymphoma
  • Unusual sensitivity to ionizing radiation
  • Progressive cerebellar ataxia beginning ages 1-4 yrs
  • Oculomotor apraxia
  • Frequent infections
  • Choreoathetosis
  • Telangiectasias of the conjunctivae
  • Immunodeficiency
Fanconi anemia >20 genes 2AR
AD
XL
  • Abnormal skin pigmentation
  • ↑ risk of malignancy: 10%-30% incidence of hematologic malignancies (primarily acute myeloid leukemia); 25%-30% incidence of nonhematologic malignancies (solid tumors, particularly of head & neck, skin, GI tract, & genital tract)
  • Bone marrow failure in 1st decade; 90% estimated cumulative incidence of bone marrow failure by age 40-50 yrs
  • Physical abnormalities: short stature; malformations of thumbs, forearms, skeletal system, eye, kidneys & urinary tract, ear, heart, GI system, oral cavity, & CNS; hearing loss; hypogonadism; DD
Xeroderma pigmentosum DDB2
ERCC1
ERCC2
ERCC3
ERCC4
ERCC5
POLH
XPA
XPC
AR
  • Sun sensitivity (sunburn w/blistering; persistent erythema on minimal sun exposure in ~60%; severe, marked freckle-like pigmentation of face before age 2 yrs)
  • Greatly ↑ risk of cutaneous neoplasms (basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, melanoma)
  • Xerosis (dry skin)
  • Poikiloderma
  • Loss of lashes
  • Median age of onset of non-melanoma skin cancer: <10 yrs
  • Neurologic manifestations in ~25%
  • Photophobia
  • Keratitis
  • Atrophy of skin of eyelids
Kindler syndrome FERMT1 AR
  • Acral bullae at birth & after minor trauma
  • Diffuse poikiloderma w/striate & reticulate atrophy
  • Widespread eczematoid dermatitis
  • Keratotic papules of hands, feet, elbows, knees
  • Marked photosensitivity
  • Esophageal & urethral strictures
  • Webbing of fingers & toes
  • No ↑ risk for cataract or malignancy
Dyskeratosis congenita ACD
CTC1
DKC1
NHP2
NOP10
PARN
RTEL1
TERC
TERT
TINF2
WRAP53
XL
AD
AR
  • Lacy reticular pigmentation of neck & upper chest
  • Nail dystrophy
  • ↑ risk of leukemia & skin cancers
  • Bone marrow failure
  • Oral leukoplakia w/variable onset
  • Not assoc w/radial ray defects or cataracts
Poikiloderma with neutropenia USB1 AR
  • Rash
  • Less common finding: acute myeloid leukemia
  • Onset of rash differs from that seen in RTS: more eczematous, starting peripherally & spreading centrally
  • Rash affecting the trunk
  • Not assoc w/radial ray abnormalities
  • Clinically significant neutropenia w/recurrent sinopulmonary infection
  • Less common finding: bone marrow failure
  • Paronychias common
Hereditary fibrosing poikiloderma with tendon contractures, myopathy, and pulmonary fibrosis FAM111B AD
  • Poikiloderma (typically beginning in 1st 6 mos & mainly facial)
  • Chronic erythematous & scaly skin lesions on extremities (distinct from chronic poikiloderma of extremities seen in RTS)
  • Sclerosis of digits
  • Mild palmoplantar keratoderma
  • Scalp hair, eyelashes, &/or eyebrows typically sparse
  • Nail dysplasia in some
  • Hypohidrosis w/heat intolerance
  • Mild lymphedema of extremities
  • Muscle contractures usually seen in childhood; can be present by age 2 yrs
  • In most: progressive weakness of proximal & distal muscles of all 4 limbs
  • In some adults: progressive interstitial pulmonary fibrosis that can be life threatening w/in 3-4 yrs after respiratory symptoms appear

AD = autosomal dominant; AR = autosomal recessive; CNS = central nervous system; DD = developmental delay; GI = gastrointestinal; MOI = mode of inheritance; XL = X-linked

1.

A greatly increased frequency of sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) in cells exposed to bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) is diagnostic. Bloom syndrome is the only disorder in which such evidence of hyper-recombination is known to occur.

2.

See Phenotypic Series: Fanconi Anemia for a list of genes associated with this phenotype in OMIM.

From: Rothmund-Thomson Syndrome

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