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Symptoms & More

The following is a list of various symptoms and conditions that have been described in patients with Marshall-Smith Syndrome.

Skull

Macrocephaly – head larger than usual

Craniosynostosis – premature closure of skull sutures

Trigonocephaly – early closure of the metopic suture

Thickened calvarium – abnormally thick skull bone

Dolichocephaly – elongated head shape

Wormian bones – growth in skull sutures

Frontal bossing – forehead bone protrudes outward

Large and prominent forehead

Shallow orbits – shallow eye sockets

Midface hypoplasia – undersized bones of the cheeks, nose and upper jaw

Neck & Spine

Abnormal neck extension

Atlantoaxial instability (C1-C2) instability or dislocation

Congenital spinal stenosis – narrowing of space around the spinal cord

Scoliosis – sideways curvature of the spine

Kyphosis – abnormal rounding of the upper back

Kyphoscoliosis – curving of the spine side to side and front to back

Sacral dimple

Protruding sacrum/coccyx

Hands & Feet

Large, distinct hands

Bullet-shaped middle fingers

Proximal insertion of thumb – thumb is set lower on the hand

Distal widening of the metacarpals

Clinodactyly of the 5th finger – pinky finger turns inward

Prominent finger and toe pads

Hallux valgus – big toe points inward

Hammer toe – flexion of the great toes

Deep crease between big toe and second toe

Overlapping toes – toes bunch together as if crowded

Ingrown toenail

Hypoplastic nails – hypoplastic fingernails and toenails

Flat feet

Long, slender feet

Miscellaneous Musculoskeletal

Hypotonia – low muscle tone throughout the body

Joint hypermobility

Accelerated skeletal maturation

Recurrent fractures

Osteopenia / Osteoporosis – decreased bone density

Asymmetrical rib cage, narrower at the top

Large sternal ossification centers

Pectus excavatum or Pectus carinatum – sternum is sunken in or protruding

Abdominal hernia (umbilical, specifically)

Decreased hip abduction

Hip dysplasia – shallow hip sockets

Coxa vara – abnormal shape of femoral neck

Bowing of the long bones

Slender bones

Tibial torsion – abnormal rotation in lower leg

Spasticity

Short adult stature

Airway

Airway obstruction, anatomical

Laryngomalacia – floppy tissue in back of throat

Tracheomalacia – floppy tissue in trachea

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia

Stridor – high-pitched sound heard upon inhale

Obstructive sleep apnea

Aspiration pneumonia

Atelectasis – collapse of the air sacs in the lungs

Acute respiratory distress syndrome

Respiratory failure

Hypoxia – insufficient blood oxygen levels

Hypercapnia – levels of CO2 are too high

Hypopnea – shallow breathing

Tachypnea – rapid breathing

Nose & Mouth

Depressed nasal bridge

Anteverted nares – upturned nose

Choanal atresia – nasal passage is closed off by bone or tissue

Choanal stenosis – nasal passage is narrow

Underdeveloped sinus cavities

High palate

Rudimentary epiglottis

Gingival overgrowth

Irregular dentition

Microdontia – smaller than usual teeth

Delayed tooth eruption

Glossoptosis – tongue set farther back in the throat

Open or gaped mouth

Protruding tongue

Hypersalivation – drooling

Micrognathia – lower jaw is undersized

Retrognathia – lower jaw is set back more than usual

Microretrognathia – lower jaw is both undersized and set back

Skin & Hair

Thin skin – fragile and soft

Bruising susceptibility

Thick eyebrow

Synophrys – eyebrows grow together in the middle

Hypertrichosis – excessive hair growth in males and females

Hirsutism – abnormal, male-pattern hair growth in females

Ears

Low-set ears

Overfolded helix – ears have a “crumpled” appearance

Ear canal stenosis

Cholesteatoma

Otitis media – frequent ear infections

Cerumen impaction – ear wax blockage in ears

Hearing loss

Eyes & Vision

Proptosis – bulging eyes

Blue sclera – whites of the eyes have a bluish tint

Hypertelorism – widely spaced eyes

Myopia – nearsightedness

Astigmatism – abnormal shape of the cornea

Glaucoma – high intraocular pressures

Optic nerve hypoplasia – undersized optic nerves

Cortical visual impairment – problems with the vision centers of the brain

Keratoconus – cornea becomes thin and conical

Exophthalmos – eyes dislocate from socket

Lagophthalmos – incomplete closure of the eyes

Dry eye syndrome

Photophobia – sensitivity to light

Corneal ulcer

Eye infections

Entropion – eyelid turns inward and eyelashes cause irritation

Anisocoria – benign unequal pupil size

Immunology

Recurrent infections (ear, sinus, respiratory)

Hypogammaglobulinemia – low IgG, immune deficiency

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