The child with overgrowth between clinical variability and genetic heterogeneity

Either in the newborn or in the child overgrowth can be generalized or localized if it is limited to one or more body regions. When overgrowth depends on a metabolic imbalance, or it is constitutional, the excessive growth can be the only clinical sign. In most cases genomic or epigenetic alterations, which affect factors involved in cell proliferation and/or regulation of gene expression (observed also in tumours), are related to overgrowth syndromes, in which excess growth may be associated with dysmorphic features, neuromotor/intellectual disabilities and behavioural disorders. These rare conditions are characterized by clinical and molecular overlap. The paper describes the cases of thr…