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Treacher-Collins syndrome

Ambarkova Vesna

Faculty of Dental Medicine, Department of Paediatric and Preventive Dentistry, , University St. Cyril and Methodius, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia

DOI: 10.15761/CMI.1000136

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Treacher-Collins syndrome is genetic disease that alters the development of bones and other tissues in the face. Signs and symptoms of this syndrome, vary from almost unnoticeable face changes to severe facial and ear deformities, cleft palate and restricted airway. The syndrome is named after Edward Treacher Collins, an English surgeon and ophthalmologist who described its essential traits in 1900.

Treacher-Collins syndrome can be passed down through families or most of the time do not affect another member of the family. Mutations in TCOF1 and POLR1D cause the autosomal dominant form of Treacher Collins, and mutations in POLR1C cause the autosomal recessive form [1]. The integration of molecular biology, cell biology, mouse genetics and experimental embryology has recently provided novel insights into the molecular pathogenesis of TCS.

When an affected child is born, it is important to investigate the parents to determine whether the affected gene is present, because the parent could have a mild form of the disease that has not been diagnosed. The diagnosis of Treacher Collins syndrome relies upon clinical and radiographic findings. Prenatal diagnosis cannot be guaranteed. Mutations in the main genes responsible for TCS can be detected with chorionic villus sampling or amniocentesis. Rare mutations may not be detected by these methods. Ultrasonography can be used to detect craniofacial abnormalities later in pregnancy, but may not detect milder cases. The TCOF1 gene is located on the long arm (q) of chromosome 5, a region which is designated 5q32. TCOF1 encodes a protein known as treacle [1]. De Peratta et al find a positive correlation between the expression of CNBP and TCOF1 in mesenchymal cells from both control and TCS subject. Based on that, they suggest CNBP as a additional target for new alternative therapeutic treatments to reduce craniofacialdefects not only in TCS but also in other neurocistopathies [2].

Deficient ribosome biogenesis which occur in this syndrome is insufficient to meet the proliferation and growth needs of cells during development of the embryo. It is assumed that the changes occur from 19-28 day of early intrauterine development due to destruction of the trigeminal neuron cells (of unknown origin) and is associated with generalized lack of mesenchymal tissue, leading to underdevelopment of the upper jaw and lower jaw. Because TCS is highly variable, researchers speculate that additional genetic and possibly environmental factors may also play a role in the variable severity of the disorder(guide for TCS.

One possibility for improving the surgical outcome might be the incorporation of stem cells in therapeutic treatment of craniofacial abnormalities. There is enormous potential in the application of stem cells in engineering tissues, such as bone and cartilage, that constitute the head and facial tissues so severely disrupted in TCS. However, at present, there is no universal recommendation for the in utero correction of prenatally diagnosed craniofacial anomalies and the decision to pursue fetal surgical intervention carries with it the potential for dual mortality (mother and fetus). Thus, fetal surgery at present remains experimental and controversial [3].

Аll described changes in Treacher-Collins syndrome can be divided in three groups: otological, ophthalmic and dental findings. Otological findings are Conductive hearing loss (ranging from mild to severe) usually due to malformations of structures within the middle ear, absent, abnormally small or underdeveloped external ears, malformed external ears (hypoplasia of ear shells, low position of the ear shells (earlobes), presence of skin extensions and blind fistula in the area before the ear shells), the absence of the outer ear canal (atresia), stenosis of the external auditory canal and often deafness.

A child with TCS may have sleep apnea [4], conductive hearing loss, which may require a resource to provide child hearing aids. Some individuals can be affected severally, and they may develop life-threatening breathing problems known as infantile apnea.When infant with Treacher-Collins Syndrome is scheduled for mandibular surgery under general endotracheal anesthesia, the fiberoptic intubation method yhrough a laryngeal musk airway, described by Ellis et al can be successfully used in small infants with Treacher Collins Syndrome [5,6].

Ophthalmic findings associated with TCS include: antimongoloidal palpebral position, narrowed tear ducts (dacrostenosis),notching (coloboma) of the lower eyelid, downward angle of the upper and lower eyelids (downward slanting palpebral fissures, partial or complete absence of the lower eyelashes in the inner corner of the eye, drooping eyelids, vision loss. Dental findings developed among 60% of individuals with TCS. More often seen are : missing teeth (tooth agenesis), discoloration of the teeth (enamel opacities), widely-spaced teeth., skeletal open bite, bite distal (distalisation of the mandible), '' profile of a bird ", abnormal eruption of certain teeth (ectopic eruption of maxillary first molars) and malocclusion (improper positioning of the teeth and jaw) and hypoplasia of the mandible jaw with a unique concavity on the lower edge of the mandible, which can be seen well in cephalometric radiograph. Less frequently included findings, associated with TCS are: Congenital heart defect, Abnormal scalp hair pattern (front of the ears and extending toward the cheeks), an abnormally wide mouth (macrostomia occur in 15% of cases), notching of the upper eyelid, hypoplasia or absence of zygomatic bones, widely spaced eyes, nasal deformity, cleft palate and highly arched roof of the mouth (high Gothic palate accompanied by a cleft palate in 30% of cases).

The Orthodontic treatment is focuses on the expansion of the upper jaw with mobile devices. If the cleft palate is present , the design of the orthodontic appliance is specially adapted. In the presence of the permanent dentition application of fixed orthodontic appliance is indicated, in order to establish satisfactory intercuspation and establish proper leveling of the jaws arches. Angle Class II skeletal relationship of the jaws is retained because of the underdevelopment of the lower jaw.

Better performance in school is ensure by treatment of hearing loss. The children with Treacher-Collins syndrome have to be followed by a plastic surgeon , because they may need a series of operations to correct birth defects. Receding chin and other changes in face structure can be corrected by plastic surgery [7-9].

Because Treacher Collins syndrome affects multiple body systems, experienced, multidisciplinary team care is extremely important in achieving the best outcomes for physical and psychosocial needs associated with this syndrome, including surgical repair, airway management, feeding and breathing support, orthodontic needs, speech language therapeutic follow-up [10], management of vision and hearing problems and long-term follow-up care.

References

  1. Trainor P, Sanchez-Lara P, Dixon M (2017) The Physicians’s Guide to Treacher-Collins Syndrome. The National Organization for Rare Disorders. Guides for Physicians.
  2. De Peratta MSP, Mouguelar VS, Sdrigotti MA, Ishiy FAA, Fanganiello RD, et al. (2016) Cnbp ameliorates Treacher Collins Syndrome craniofacial anomalies through a pathway that involves redox-responsive genes. Cell Death and Disease 7: e2397. [Crossref]
  3. Trainor PA, Dixon J, Dixon MJ (2009) Treacher Collins syndrome: etiology, pathogenesis and prevention. European Journal of Human Genetics 17: 275-283. [Crossref]
  4. Damlar I, Altan A, Turgav B, Kilic S (2016) Management of obstructive sleep apnea in a Treacher Collins syndrome patient using distraction osteogenesis of the mandible. J Korean Assoc Oral Maxillofac Surg 42: 388-392. [Crossref]
  5. Fuentes R, De la Cuadra JC, Lacassie H, González A (2016) Difficult fiberoptic tracheal intubation in 1-month-old infant with Treacher Collins Syndrome. Rev Bras Anestesiol [Crossref]
  6. Marques-Pires R, Trindade H2 (2017) The airway approach to a neonate with Treacher Collins syndrome - Case report. Rev Esp Anestesiol Reanim 64: 233-236. [Crossref]
  7. Ligh CA, Swanson J, Yu JW, Samra F, Bartlett SP, et al. (2017) A Morphologic Classification Scheme for the Mandibular Hypoplasia in Treacher Collins Syndrome. J Craniofac Surg [Crossref]
  8. Sainsbury DC, George A, Forrest CR, Phillips JH (2017) Bilateral Malar Reconstraction Using Patient-Specific Polyether Ketone Implants in Treacher-Collins Syndrome Patients With Absent Zygomas. J Craniofac Surg 28: 515-517. [Crossref]
  9. Ueda K, Nuri T, Shigemura Y (2016) Malar Reconstraction Using Y-V Advancement Flaps after Tissue Expansion in Treacher Collins Syndrome. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open 4: e715 [Crossref]
  10. Massi G, FranÇa DR, Santoe RS, Ribas A, Fonseca VD, et al. (2016) Speech language pathology findings in a Treacher Collins syndrome patient. Int Tinnitus J 20: 31-5. [Crossref]

Editor-in-Chief

Dr. Ume Wollina

Article Type

Short Comminication

Publication history

Received date: June 03, 2017
Accepted date: June 26, 2017
Published date: June 29, 2017

Copyright

©2017 Vesna A. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Citation

Vesna A (2017) Treacher-Collins syndrome. Clin Med Invest 2: doi: 10.15761/CMI.1000136

Corresponding author

Vesna Ambarkova PhD,.MSc, DDS,

University St. Cyril and Methodius, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Department of Paediatric and Preventive Dentistry, Mother Theresa 17 University Dental Clinic Center Sv. Pantelejmon, Skopje 1000, Republic of Macedonia.

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