Russell-Silver Syndrome
Alternate Names : Silver Syndrome, Silver-Russell Syndrome
DefinitionRusell-Silver syndrome is a congenital disease (present at birth) characterized by short stature and, frequently, asymmetry in the size of the two halves or other parts of the body.
Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
Genetic problems are thought to cause this syndrome, although the specific gene(s) remain to be discovered. The pattern of inheritance has not been determined, but in most cases it seems to occur without any family history of the condition.
Children with Russell-Silver syndrome are born small and generally achieve less than 5 feet at adult height. Side-to-side asymmetry is fairly common. For example, a left body part may be larger than the right counterpart. This asymmetry may occur anywhere including the face.
Other characteristics include excessive sweating, a small triangular face that makes the skull look large by comparison, inward curving 5th fingers, and colored spots on the skin called cafe-au-lait spots.
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