Prenatal diagnosis of 6pter-p24 deletion syndrome in a fetus from a Han Chinese family: A case report

INTRODUCTION: Chromosome 6pter-p24 deletion syndrome (OMIM #612582) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by deletion of the distal part of 6p. Human 6p deletion syndromes result in a variety of congential malformations. PATIENT CONCERNS: The fetus was the fourth child born to healthy non-consanguineous parents with no relevant family history. DIAGNOSIS: The fetus was diagnosed with 6pter-p24 deletion syndrome through prenatal ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, and chromosomal microarray analysis. The fetus had brain, skeletal, and heart malformations. The fetus was cytogenetically normal. Chromosomal microarray analysis detected an interstitial 7.999Mb deletion within the 6p25.1p24.3 region of chromosome 6. INTERVENTIONS: There was no treatment for the fetus. OUTCOMES: Pregnancy was terminated. CONCLUSIONS: To the author's knowledge, the present case is one of the first to report the prenatal diagnosis of 6pter-p24 deletion syndrome in a fetus. No published reports have described the diagnosis of 6pter-p24 deletion syndrome using multiple technologies during the antenatal period; therefore, our findings may provide a reference for other clinicians. The clinical features and pathophysiology of this prenatal diagnosis are discussed.