Sections

Nijmegen Breakage Syndrome

Presentation

History

The patient history may reveal clues to the diagnosis, such as the following:

Course of pregnancy and delivery: Most children with Nijmegen breakage syndrome are born at term, in vertical presentation.
Early somatic development: Birth weight, length, and head circumference are usually significantly lower in comparison with sex-matched controls; a slow growth rate and poor weight gain is observed in infancy and early childhood.
Psychomotor development: Usually, no gross delay of milestones is observed during the first year of life; toddlers and preschool children are frequently hyperactive; speech delay is common.
Mild complications after vaccinations (ie, against polio or measles) or in the course of childhood infectious diseases (eg, varicella) are reported in some patients.
Recurring infections: These are mainly of the respiratory tract, urinary tract, and gastrointestinal system, and they become a problem in approximately two thirds of patients.

The following information from the family history is also particularly important:

Occurrence of microcephaly or hydrocephaly in patient's siblings
Death of patient's siblings due to malignancy or severe infection
Malignancies among other family members

Physical Examination

Microcephaly

Microcephaly (ie, head circumference below the third percentile) is the most striking and consistent symptom of Nijmegen breakage syndrome. In the great majority of children, it is observed at birth; in individuals who were born with a head circumference within the reference range, progressive and severe microcephaly develops during the first months of life. However, despite severe and progressive microcephaly, neuromotor development is not disturbed; epileptic seizures are not characteristic of the disease.

Among the 77 patients of Polish descent whom Chrzanowska observed, the deficiency of occipitofrontal circumference ranged from -4.4 to -9 standard deviation, but the proportions among the diminished head measurements (length and breadth) were retained.

Craniofacial characteristics

A sloping forehead and receding mandible, a prominent midface with a relatively long nose, upward slanting of the palpebral fissures (in most), and relatively large and dysplastic ears (in some) characterize the facial appearance in Nijmegen breakage syndrome, which is similar among all patients. The craniofacial characteristics of Nijmegen breakage syndrome become more obvious with patient age, probably because of progressive microcephaly. Note the images below.

Typical facial features in a 9-year-old girl with Nijmegen breakage syndrome. Note the markedly upward-slanting palpebral features.

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Lateral profile. This view shows a relatively long nose and receding mandible.

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Growth retardation

Children with Nijmegen breakage syndrome, in spite of being born at term, are characterized by a significantly lower birth weight and head circumference in comparison with sex-matched controls, as well as lower birth length and chest circumference.

The range of birth weight of Polish neonates was 1900-3600 g for females and 2170-3950 g for males.

After approximately a 2-year period of distinct postnatal growth retardation, a slight improvement in the growth rate (including those of body height and weight but not head circumference) is usually observed (Polish data).

Most patients' growth is around the third percentile for height and weight; in some teenage patients, growth is between the 10th and 25th percentiles for height and weight. Young adult individuals with Nijmegen breakage syndrome can reach a height of approximately 165 cm (ie, approximately 50th percentile for females and less than third percentile for males; Polish data).

Sexual maturation

Results of long-term follow-up in a large group of Polish patients drew attention to the poor development of secondary sex characteristics (ie, lack of development of genital organs and breasts, primary amenorrhea) in female patients with Nijmegen breakage syndrome who reached pubertal age.^[54]

Endocrinologic evaluation indicates ovarian failure (see Lab Studies). Affected female patients fail to reach sexual maturity because of hypergonadotropic hypogonadism.^{[54, 55]}

Immune deficiency and recurring infections

Because of defective humoral and cellular immunity, Nijmegen breakage syndrome patients are prone to developing infections. A considerable variability in immune deficiency is observed among different patients.^[56]

The most common infections are respiratory tract infections (pneumonia, bronchitis) and sinusitis. Recurrent bronchopneumonia may result in bronchiectasis. Urinary and/or gastrointestinal tract infections and otitis media are also relatively common. Opportunistic infections are rare, as they are in patients with A-T.

Immunodeficiency in Nijmegen breakage syndrome is caused by reduced numbers of peripheral B and T lymphocytes, which can be explained as a precursor B-cell and, probably, also T-cell differentiation problem, due to a dysfunction of a truncated nibrin molecule.^[57]A defect in humoral immunity in Nijmegen breakage syndrome patients is caused by reduced numbers of peripheral B lymphocytes and, simultaneously, by failure of their maturation, which results in an ineffective class-switch recombination.^[58]

Malignancies

Malignancy is the most common cause of death in patients with Nijmegen breakage syndrome.

The prevalence of lymphoid malignancies in individuals with Nijmegen breakage syndrome is unprecedentedly high compared with healthy individuals and persons with other cancer-predisposing diseases such as A-T, Bloom syndrome, and FA. To date, 40-50% of Nijmegen breakage syndrome patients have developed a malignancy by age 20 years, of which 85-90% are leukemias or lymphomas. The most common of these are non-Hodgkin lymphomas (two morphological subtypes predominate: diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, DLBCL, and T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma, T-LBL), lymphoblastic leukemia (acute lymphoblastic leukemia, with both precursor B cells and T cells), and Hodgkin disease.^{[59, 60, 61, 62]}Two cases of acute myeloblastic leukemia^[63]and a single case of acute monocytic leukemia^[64]were also reported.

Among solid tumors, 2 were observed relatively frequently: medulloblastoma in 5 patients^{[15, 65, 66]}(further 2 cases unpublished) and rhabdomyosarcoma of the perianal region in 3 others.^{[67, 68, 69]}The latter, rhabdomyosarcoma arising perianally, is extremely uncommon in children; therefore, taking into account the number of Nijmegen breakage syndrome patients with this type of cancer, a strong association with Nijmegen breakage syndrome is suggested.^[69]

Other malignancies were present in single patients only. These included papillary thyroid carcinoma, gonadoblastoma, glioma, meningioma, neuroblastoma, and Ewing sarcoma.^[3]

Cutaneous manifestations and hair characteristics

Skin pigmentation abnormalities include café au lait spots (usually 2-5 spots, irregular in shape) and/or depigmented spots, which are present in approximately half the patients.^{[3, 53, 4]}In 3 Polish patients, vitiligo was observed by the time they became adolescents, with progression as they aged. Less frequently, sun sensitivity of the eyelids is observed, and, occasionally, cutaneous telangiectasia (particularly on the back) is seen. Multiple pigmented nevi and cavernous or flat hemangiomas can also occur.

Cutaneous, sarcoidlike granulomas were observed in two female Nijmegen breakage syndrome patients with accompanying ocular manifestations in one of them.^[70](Chrzanowska, unpublished data). Primary cutaneous tuberculosis and necrobiotic cutaneous granulomas were reported, respectively.^{[71, 72]}

Usually, the hair is thin in infants and toddlers, but later, improvement is observed. Early graying of hair may be observed by adolescence.

Note the images below.

Cutaneous sarcoidosis in a patient with Nijmegen breakage syndrome. Note syndactyly of the second and third toes.

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Vitiligo spots in a patient with Nijmegen breakage syndrome.

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Progressive vitiligo in a patient with Nijmegen breakage syndrome.

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Café au lait–like spots in a patient with Nijmegen breakage syndrome.

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Other developmental anomalies

CNS malformations are observed relatively frequently and may be more common than expected. Small frontal lobes and narrow frontal horns of the lateral ventricles were documented in all patients who underwent cranial MRI.^[73]Small brain size may be associated with other CNS developmental abnormalities, including partial agenesis of the corpus callosum, hydrocephaly, arachnoid cysts, and neuronal migration disorder (in the form of schizencephaly or pachygyria).^{[67, 73, 74]}

Minor skeletal anomalies, such as clinodactyly of the fifth fingers and/or partial syndactyly of the second and third toes, are encountered in approximately half the patients. Hip dysplasia, preaxial polydactyly, and sacral agenesis are less common. Note the image below.

Preaxial polydactyly of the hand in a patient with Nijmegen breakage syndrome.

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Urogenital defects noted in several patients with Nijmegen breakage syndrome have included kidney pathology (eg, agenesis or hypoplasia, ectopic single kidney or dystopic kidneys), hydronephrosis, hypospadias, and cryptorchidism.

Among other abnormalities, tracheal hypoplasia, cleft lip and/or palate, choanal atresia, anal atresia/stenosis, and cardiovascular defects (patent ductus arteriosus, ventricular septal defect) are reported. Polysplenia, a peculiarity with no clinical significance, is relatively frequently detected by ultrasonography.

Other complications

Two pediatric patients were reported to suffer from juvenile rheumatoid arthritis–like arthritis and chronic polyarthritis, respectively.^{[75, 76]}

Complications

Recurrent pneumonia and bronchitis may result in bronchiectasis or respiratory insufficiency.

Recurrent otitis media may result in draining ear(s) or mastoiditis.

Malignancies occur frequently in patients with Nijmegen breakage syndrome.

An adverse reaction to radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or both in patients with unrecognized Nijmegen breakage syndrome may result in toxic death.

At least 3 patients who had medulloblastoma and received radiation before being diagnosed with Nijmegen breakage syndrome were fatally injured, and they eventually died from complications of the therapy.^{[15, 65, 66]}

Alopecia was an adverse effect observed in a Polish patient with acute myeloblastic leukemia given an 18-Gy dose of cranial irradiation for CNS prophylaxis. However, another Polish patient manifested no complications after receiving an identical dose by prophylactic cranial irradiation for high-risk group T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Both patients were treated for the malignancy before the diagnosis of Nijmegen breakage syndrome was established (Chrzanowska, unpublished data).

Physicians should be aware of the possibility that Nijmegen breakage syndrome is underdiagnosed in children with malignant diseases in geographical areas where the disease is less frequent.

A high index of suspicion is necessary for patients who (1) develop any type of malignancy and have congenital defects (eg, microcephaly) and (2) develop lymphoid malignancy at a very young age (younger than 3 y).

Differential Diagnoses

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Media Gallery

A 6-month-old infant with Nijmegen breakage syndrome. Note microcephaly, the slightly upward-slanting palpebral fissures, and small chin.
Lateral facial features with sloping forehead and receding mandible are shown in a 6-month-old infant.
Typical facial features in a 9-year-old girl with Nijmegen breakage syndrome. Note the markedly upward-slanting palpebral features.
Lateral profile. This view shows a relatively long nose and receding mandible.
Cutaneous sarcoidosis in a patient with Nijmegen breakage syndrome. Note syndactyly of the second and third toes.
Vitiligo spots in a patient with Nijmegen breakage syndrome.
Progressive vitiligo in a patient with Nijmegen breakage syndrome.
Café au lait–like spots in a patient with Nijmegen breakage syndrome.
Preaxial polydactyly of the hand in a patient with Nijmegen breakage syndrome.
MRI in a patient with Nijmegen breakage syndrome shows large cerebrospinal fluid space that communicates with the left lateral ventricle and underdevelopment of the parietal lobes. Reprinted with permission from the Journal of Medical Genetics. Copyright 2001, BMJ Publishing Group.
MRI in a patient with Nijmegen breakage syndrome. Note compression of the posterior fossa and the lack of cerebellar atrophy. Reprinted with permission from the Journal of Medical Genetics. Copyright 2001, BMJ Publishing Group.
MRI in a patient with Nijmegen breakage syndrome. Note the small frontal lobes and the narrow frontal horns of the lateral ventricles. Reprinted with permission from the Journal of Medical Genetics. Copyright 2001, BMJ Publishing Group.
MRI in a patient with Nijmegen breakage syndrome. Note the partial defect of the corpus callosum. Reprinted with permission from the Journal of Medical Genetics. Copyright 2001, BMJ Publishing Group.

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Table 1.Syndromes to be Considered in the Differential Diagnosis of Nijmegen Breakage Syndrome

Clinical and Cellular Phenotype	Nijmegen Breakage Syndrome	Nijmegen Breakage Syndrome‒Like Disorder ^{[39, 77]}	DNA LIG4 Deficiency ^{[37, 38, 78]}	NHEJ1 Syndrome ^{[40, 41]}	XRCC4 Deficiency ^{[42, 43]}	Fanconi Anemia ^{[47, 48, 79]}	Warsaw Breakage Syndrome ^{[80, 81]}	Bloom Syndrome ^{[82, 83]}
Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM)	251260	604040	606593	611291	616541	227650	613398	210900
Gene	NBN	RAD50	DNA LIG4	NHEJ1	XRCC4	FANC^a	DDX11	RECQL3
Microcephaly	Severe, disproportionate	Severe	Severe	Severe	Severe	In ~30%	Severe, disproportionate	Severe, proportionate
Growth Deficiency	Mild to moderate	Severe	Moderate to severe	Severe	Severe, disproportionate	Mild to moderate	Severe	Severe
Congenital Malformations	Heart, kidney, polydactyly	Not reported	Polydactyly, syndactyly	Polydactyly	Not reported	Heart, kidney radial bone defects (~50%)	Heart	Kidney, polydactyly
Puberty and Fertility	Primary amenorrhea (hypergonadotropic hypogonadism)	Normal puberty	Amenorrhea	Not reported	Primary amenorrhea	Males, infertility; females, early menopause	Normal puberty	Males, infertility; females, early menopause
Other Endocrinologic Problems	Not reported	Not reported	Hypothyroidism, type 2 diabetes	Not reported	Early-onset metabolic syndrome	Type 2 diabetes mellitus	Not reported	Type 2 diabetes mellitus
Recurrent Infections	Yes	No	Rare	Yes	No	No	No	Yes
Immunodeficiency	Combined (B- and T-cell)	No	Combined (B- and T-cell)	Combined (B- and T-cell)	No	No	No	B-cell type
Hematologic Findings	Myelodysplastic syndrome (incidentally)	Not reported	Pancytopenia, myelodysplastic syndrome	Pancytopenia, myelodysplastic syndrome	Thrombocytopenia, pancytopenia	Progressive bone marrow failure, myelodysplastic syndrome	Not reported	Myelodysplastic syndrome
Malignancy Type	Predominantly lymphoid origin	Not reported	Predominantly lymphoid origin	Not reported	Tumor	Acute myeloid leukemia, solid tumors (early onset)	Not reported	Lymphoid origin, acute myeloid leukemia, solid tumors
Chromosomal Instability	Breakages, including 7/14 rearrangements	Breakages, 7/14 rearrangements	Breakages, no 7/14 rearrangements	Breakages, not specified	Not reported	Breakages, figures (asymmetric)	Breakages and cohesinopathy	Breakages, figures (symmetric), high sister chromatid exchange rate
Sensitivity to Damaging Agents (in vitro)	Ionizing radiation, bleomycin; mitomycin C and diepoxybutane, mild	Ionizing radiation, bleomycin	Ionizing radiation, bleomycin	Ionizing radiation (variable)	Ionizing radiation (extreme)	Mitomycin C and diepoxybutane; ionizing radiation, mild	Mitomycin C, camptothecin	Ultraviolet
Mental Retardation	Mild to moderate	Moderate	Mild to moderate	Yes, not defined	Moderate to severe	Moderate to severe	Moderate to severe	Normal to mild
^aFANC: Genetic and phenotypic heterogeneity; 19 genes known (OMIM).

Table 2. Selected NBN Gene Pathogenic Molecular Variants

Mutation	Exon	Mutation Type	Change in Protein	Number of Families and Origin	Allelic Status
c.643C>T	6	Missense	R215W	1^a Czech	He^b
c.657_661del5 (657del5)	6	Frameshift	Truncated protein (233 aa)	>90% Slavic founder mutation	Ho^c (He)
c.681delT	6	Frameshift	Truncated protein (229 aa)	1 Russian	He
c.698_701del4 (698del4)	6	Frameshift	Truncated protein (236 aa)	2 English	Ho He
c.742_743insGG (742insGG)	7	Frameshift	Truncated protein (251 aa)	1 Italian	Ho
c.835_838del4 (835del4)	7	Frameshift	Truncated protein (279 aa)	1 Italian	Ho
c.842_843insT (842insT)	7	Frameshift	Truncated protein (283 aa)	1 Mexican	Ho
c.900_924del25 (900del25)	8	Frameshift	Truncated protein (305 aa)	1 Moroccan	Ho
c.976C>T	8	Nonsense	Q326X	1 Dutch	Ho
c.1089C>A	9	Nonsense	Y363X	3^d Pakistani	Ho
c.1142delC	10	Frameshift	Truncated protein (402 aa)	2 Canadian	He
^aMonozygotic twin-brothers (compound heterozygotes) with severe disease phenotype.^[86] ^bHe - Heterozygous (compound with 657del5). ^cHo - Homozygous. ^dThree nuclear families in 1 large family; proband diagnosed first as having Fanconi anemia (FA).^{[47, 48]}

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Author

Krystyna H Chrzanowska, MD, PhD Professor and Head of Genetic Counseling Unit, Department of Medical Genetics, Children's Memorial Health Institute, Warsaw, Poland

Krystyna H Chrzanowska, MD, PhD is a member of the following medical societies: European Association for Cancer Research, European Society of Human Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Polish Genetics Society, Polish Pediatric Society, Polish Society of Human Genetics

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Camila K Janniger, MD Clinical Professor of Dermatology, Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Chief of Pediatric Dermatology, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School

Camila K Janniger, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

David F Butler, MD Former Section Chief of Dermatology, Central Texas Veterans Healthcare System; Professor of Dermatology, Texas A&M University College of Medicine; Founding Chair, Department of Dermatology, Scott and White Clinic

David F Butler, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, Association of Military Dermatologists, Phi Beta Kappa, Texas Dermatological Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Robert A Schwartz, MD, MPH Professor and Head of Dermatology, Professor of Pathology, Professor of Pediatrics, Professor of Medicine, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School

Robert A Schwartz, MD, MPH is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, New York Academy of Medicine, Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Honor Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

William D James, MD Paul R Gross Professor of Dermatology, Vice-Chairman, Residency Program Director, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine

William D James, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, Society for Investigative Dermatology

Disclosure: Received income in an amount equal to or greater than $250 from: Elsevier; WebMD<br/>Served as a speaker for various universities, dermatology societies, and dermatology departments.

Additional Contributors

Noah S Scheinfeld, JD, MD, FAAD † Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Dermatology, Weil Cornell Medical College; Consulting Staff, Department of Dermatology, St Luke's Roosevelt Hospital Center, Beth Israel Medical Center, New York Eye and Ear Infirmary; Assistant Attending Dermatologist, New York Presbyterian Hospital; Assistant Attending Dermatologist, Lenox Hill Hospital, North Shore-LIJ Health System; Private Practice

Noah S Scheinfeld, JD, MD, FAAD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.