A novel insertion in the FGFR2 gene in a patient with Crouzon phenotype and sacrococcygeal tail

BACKGROUND: Mutations in the FGFR2 gene are present in several syndromes with craniosynostosis, such as Pfeiffer's, Apert's, and Crouzon's. CASE: We report a case of craniosynostosis (Crouzon phenotype) with tracheal anomalies and a sacrococcygeal tail. In addition, the patient shows dolichoplagiocephaly, prominent occiput, proptosis, mild facial asymmetry, strabismus, small umbilical hernia, and syndactyly of the second and third toes. CONCLUSIONS: Molecular analysis of the FGFR2 gene in this patient revealed a 12-bp insertion (GAGGAGACCTAG) at nucleotide 824. This is an in-frame mutation that adds four amino acid residues to the immunoglobulin IIIa (IgIIIa) domain of the putative protein. This is the first report of an in-frame insertion in exon 8 of FGFR2 in a child with Crouzon's syndrome, tracheal anomalies, and a tail.