A brother and sister with dysmorphic features, severe developmental delays, and hypotonia who
have associated partial agenesis of the corpus callosum, pontine hypoplasia, and progressive
white matter abnormalities are described. Dysmorphic features include macrocrania, frontal
bossing, deep set eyes, small palpebral fissures, and a curved nose. Discordant features include
Duane's syndrome Type II, an ectopic right ureter, and strabismus in the male. Laboratory
investigations included normal karyotype, serum amino acids, urine organic acids, carnitine,
lactate, ammonia, leukocyte lysosomal enzyme studies, and CSF protein. Nerve conduction
velocity and EEGs were normal. BAER revealed low amplitude brainstem waveforms suggestive
of pontine abnormalities in the boy. The partial agenesis of the corpus callosum is atypical in that
it affects not only the posterior splenium, but also the genu. This is clearly not explained by a late
insult during development, as is usually suspected in partial agenesis. The pontine hypoplasia is
also unique in that it has not been previously reported with an anatomically normal cerebellum.
The white matter changes were located in the subcortex of the frontal lobes in MRI taken at
about age 3, but they were not present during infancy. We found no evidence to support a
previously specified leukodystrophy. The children are severely delayed developmentally, and we
predict a regressive course. FG syndrome, Acrocallosal syndrome, and Andermann's syndrome,
as well as case reports by Ciotti and Fagioli (1986), Lachiewictz et al. (1985), and Young et al.
(1985), include some of the features, but they do not include the neurodegenerative findings.
Here, the coexistence of these multiple unusual features and brain abnormalities in siblings
suggests a syndrome, more extensive than previously described, with a slowly progressive
course.