Mobius Syndrome Differential Diagnoses

  • Author: Cheryl Ann Palmer, MD; Chief Editor: Amy Kao, MD   more...
 
Updated: Feb 23, 2012
 
 

Diagnostic Considerations

Because birth trauma can cause a syndrome with a presentation similar to that of Möbius syndrome, birth trauma should be excluded as soon as possible after birth. Other conditions to consider in the differential diagnosis of Möbius syndrome include the following:

  • Abducens (CN VI) nerve palsy
  • Asymmetrical crying facies
  • Brainstem syndromes
  • Duane syndrome
  • Kallmann syndrome
  • Metabolic neuropathy
  • Myotonic diseases
  • Neuromuscular diseases
  • Poland anomaly
  • Klippel-Feil anomaly

Differential Diagnoses

Proceed to Workup
 
 
Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Cheryl Ann Palmer, MD  Professor of Pathology and Neurology, Director, Neuropathology Fellowship Program, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine; Consulting Staff, Departments of Pathology and Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital; Consulting Staff, Departments of Pathology and Neurology, Veteran Affairs Medical Center; Consulting Staff, Department of Pathology, Children's Hospital of Alabama

Cheryl Ann Palmer, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Neurology, American Association of Neuropathologists, Medical Association of the State of Alabama, Society for Neuro-Oncology, and Southern Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Amy Kao, MD  Attending Neurologist, Children's National Medical Center

Amy Kao, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Neurology, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Epilepsy Society, and Child Neurology Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Additional Contributors

Robert J Baumann, MD Professor of Neurology and Pediatrics, Department of Neurology, University of Kentucky College of Medicine

Robert J Baumann, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Neurology, American Academy of Pediatrics, and Child Neurology Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Medscape Salary Employment

References

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Autopsy photograph of a 3-month-old child with Möbius syndrome who died unexpectedly demonstrates congenital amputation of the left hand at the wrist.
Low-power photomicrograph of a brainstem specimen in an infant with Möbius syndrome who died at age 3 months. Image shows bilateral lesions in the pons of the abducens nuclei (hematoxylin and eosin stain).
Medium-power photomicrograph from the abducens nucleus in an infant with Möbius syndrome who died demonstrates diffuse necrosis and neuronal loss (hematoxylin and eosin stain).
High-power photomicrograph shows a lesion of an abducens nerve nucleus in an infant with Möbius syndrome who died at age 3 months. Image shows neuronal loss, necrosis, myxoid change, and a circumferential rim of thickened glial fibrils (hematoxylin and eosin stain).
 
 
 
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