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Polydactyly-macrocephaly syndrome(PDMCS)

MedGen UID:
1847761
Concept ID:
C5882754
Disease or Syndrome
Synonym: PDMCS
 
Gene (location): MAX (14q23.3)
 
Monarch Initiative: MONDO:0958227
OMIM®: 620712

Definition

Polydactyly-macrocephaly syndrome (PDMCS) is characterized by postaxial polydactyly and progressive macrocephaly. Variable ocular anomalies have been observed, including microphthalmia and coloboma as well as delayed visual maturation. Neurodevelopmental anomalies are also present, including global developmental delay and autism or autistic traits, with prominent perivascular spaces on brain imaging (Harris et al., 2024). [from OMIM]

Clinical features

From HPO
Renal agenesis
MedGen UID:
154237
Concept ID:
C0542519
Congenital Abnormality
Agenesis, that is, failure of the kidney to develop during embryogenesis and development.
Hypospadias
MedGen UID:
163083
Concept ID:
C0848558
Congenital Abnormality
Abnormal position of urethral meatus on the ventral penile shaft (underside) characterized by displacement of the urethral meatus from the tip of the glans penis to the ventral surface of the penis, scrotum, or perineum.
Postaxial hand polydactyly
MedGen UID:
609221
Concept ID:
C0431904
Congenital Abnormality
Supernumerary digits located at the ulnar side of the hand (that is, on the side with the fifth finger).
Postaxial foot polydactyly
MedGen UID:
384489
Concept ID:
C2112129
Finding
Polydactyly of the foot most commonly refers to the presence of six toes on one foot. Postaxial polydactyly affects the lateral ray and the duplication may range from a well-formed articulated digit to a rudimentary digit.
Patent foramen ovale
MedGen UID:
8891
Concept ID:
C0016522
Congenital Abnormality
Failure of the foramen ovale to seal postnatally, leaving a potential conduit between the left and right cardiac atria.
Atrial septal defect
MedGen UID:
6753
Concept ID:
C0018817
Congenital Abnormality
Atrial septal defect (ASD) is a congenital abnormality of the interatrial septum that enables blood flow between the left and right atria via the interatrial septum.
Perianal abscess
MedGen UID:
14677
Concept ID:
C0031019
Disease or Syndrome
The presence of an abscess located around the anus.
Global developmental delay
MedGen UID:
107838
Concept ID:
C0557874
Finding
A delay in the achievement of motor or mental milestones in the domains of development of a child, including motor skills, speech and language, cognitive skills, and social and emotional skills. This term should only be used to describe children younger than five years of age.
Autistic behavior
MedGen UID:
163547
Concept ID:
C0856975
Mental or Behavioral Dysfunction
Persistent deficits in social interaction and communication and interaction as well as a markedly restricted repertoire of activity and interest as well as repetitive patterns of behavior.
Ventriculomegaly
MedGen UID:
283902
Concept ID:
C1531647
Finding
An increase in size of the ventricular system of the brain.
Pectus carinatum
MedGen UID:
57643
Concept ID:
C0158731
Finding
A deformity of the chest caused by overgrowth of the ribs and characterized by protrusion of the sternum.
Thoracic platyspondyly
MedGen UID:
400049
Concept ID:
C1862428
Finding
A flattened vertebral body shape with reduced distance between the vertebral endplates affecting the thoracic spine.
Macrocephaly
MedGen UID:
745757
Concept ID:
C2243051
Finding
Occipitofrontal (head) circumference greater than 97th centile compared to appropriate, age matched, sex-matched normal standards. Alternatively, a apparently increased size of the cranium.
Single umbilical artery
MedGen UID:
278026
Concept ID:
C1384670
Congenital Abnormality
Single umbilical artery (SUA) is the absence of one of the two umbilical arteries surrounding the fetal bladder and in the fetal umbilical cord.
Microphthalmia
MedGen UID:
10033
Concept ID:
C0026010
Congenital Abnormality
Some individuals have anophthalmia or microphthalmia as part of a syndrome that affects multiple parts of the body (syndromic anophthalmia or microphthalmia). As many as 45 percent of people with anophthalmia or microphthalmia have the condition as part of a recognized syndrome, such as CHARGE syndrome, Fraser syndrome type 1 or 2, and oculofaciocardiodental syndrome. When people have anophthalmia or microphthalmia but do not have additional abnormalities of the eye or other body systems, this is known as isolated anophthalmia or microphthalmia.\n\nAnophthalmia and microphthalmia can occur along with other eye abnormalities. People who have one missing eye (unilateral anophthalmia) can have additional eye abnormalities in the unaffected eye, while people who have microphthalmia can have additional eye abnormalities in one or both eyes (complex microphthalmia). The presence of other eye problems can worsen vision. Additional eye abnormalities can include a missing piece of tissue that may appear as a notch or gap in one of several parts of the eye (coloboma); a clouding of the lens of the eye (cataract); abnormal development of the cells in the retina (retinal dysplasia);  or microcornea, in which the clear front covering of the eye (cornea) is small and abnormally curved.\n\nAnophthalmia and microphthalmia are disorders that affect eye development before birth. Microphthalmia is a birth defect in which one or both eyes do not develop fully and are abnormally small. Anophthalmia is a more severe birth defect in which one or both eyes do not form at all. While people who have anophthalmia have no vision in the affected eye, people who have microphthalmia may or may not have significant vision loss. Because both conditions are characterized by impaired eye development, anophthalmia and microphthalmia are often considered to be related disorders (anophthalmia/microphthalmia).
Cataract
MedGen UID:
39462
Concept ID:
C0086543
Disease or Syndrome
A cataract is an opacity or clouding that develops in the crystalline lens of the eye or in its capsule.
Serous retinal detachment
MedGen UID:
57823
Concept ID:
C0154822
Disease or Syndrome
A type of retinal detachment such that fluid is present in the subretinal space and separate the neurosensory retina from the retinal pigment epithelium. It is not associated with a full-thickness break nor a tractional component. Due to breakdown of outer blood-retina barrier or increased exudation from abnormal vasculature or defective outflow.
Chorioretinal coloboma
MedGen UID:
66820
Concept ID:
C0240896
Congenital Abnormality
Absence of a region of the retina, retinal pigment epithelium, and choroid.

Professional guidelines

PubMed

Jamsheer A, Sowińska A, Trzeciak T, Jamsheer-Bratkowska M, Geppert A, Latos-Bieleńska A
J Appl Genet 2012 Nov;53(4):415-22. Epub 2012 Aug 18 doi: 10.1007/s13353-012-0109-x. PMID: 22903559Free PMC Article

Recent clinical studies

Diagnosis

Showpnil IA, Feinstein-Goren N, Greenbaum L, Barel O, Koboldt DC, Brugmann SA, Weaver KN, Slavotinek A, Pode-Shakked B, Stottmann RW
Clin Genet 2026 Apr;109(4):788-795. Epub 2025 Nov 7 doi: 10.1111/cge.70101. PMID: 41203296Free PMC Article
Gomes A, Martín-Rodríguez Á, Shah NM, Hong L, Bird LM
Am J Med Genet A 2026 Jan;200(1):178-184. Epub 2025 Aug 13 doi: 10.1002/ajmg.a.64222. PMID: 40799178
de Oliveira RS, Henriques KF, Lima SE, Cordoba MS, Pic-Taylor A, Oliveira SF, Mazzeu JF
Am J Med Genet A 2025 Nov;197(11):e64165. Epub 2025 Jul 4 doi: 10.1002/ajmg.a.64165. PMID: 40613584

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