Author: Dr Elizabeth A Connelly, Dermatologist, New Plymouth, New Zealand. DermNet New Zealand Editor in Chief: Hon A/Prof Amanda Oakley, Dermatologist, Hamilton, New Zealand, July 2017. Copy editors: Gus Mitchell/Maria McGivern, October 2017.
What is megalencephaly-capillary malformation-polymicrogyria?
Megalencephaly-capillarymalformation-polymicrogyria (MCAP) was first described in 1997 and is characterised by:
Macrocephaly (a condition where the head is abnormally large)
Cutaneousvascular anomalies
Polymicrogyria (a brain malformation indicated by several small brain convolutions).
Additional features include varying degrees of asymmetric somatic overgrowth, distal limb malformations, and hyperelasticity. Fewer than 300 cases have been reported in the literature.
MCAP is also known as macrocephaly-capillary malformation (MCM), to reflect large brain size, large head size, and polymicrogyria that characterise the syndrome.
Who gets megalencephaly-capillary malformation-polymicrogyria?
MCAP occurs sporadically and affects boys and girls equally with no ethnic predilections.
What causes megalencephaly-capillary malformation-polymicrogyria?
Some cases of MCAP have been found to have somatic mutations in the phosphatidylinositol-4, 5-bisphosphate 3-kinase catalytic subunit alpha (PIK3CA) gene on chromosome 3q26.
What are the clinical features of megalencephaly-capillary malformation-polymicrogyria?
These major criteria must both be present for MCAP to be diagnosed:
Macrocephaly (> 95th percentile) and progressive megalencephaly
What is the outcome of megalencephaly-capillary malformation-polymicrogyria?
Patients with MCAP require ongoing medical surveillance as well as physical and occupational therapy. Early intervention is helpful to overcome disability and achieve developmental milestones.
Patients are at increased risk of developing medulloblastoma, meningioma, Wilms tumour and leukaemia over their lifetime.
In addition to yearly medical exams, all patients should have cardiology consultation at the time of diagnosis.
Follow-up imaging recommendations include:
MRI of the brain at diagnosis and every 6 months until the age of 2 years
Serial abdominal sonography every 3–6 months for the first 7 years of life.
References
Gonzalez ME, Burk CJ, Barbouth DS, Connelly EA. Macrocephaly-capillary malformation: a report of three cases and review of the literature. Pediatr Dermatol. 2009 May-Jun; 26 (3): 342–6. PubMed.
Wright DR, Frieden IJ, Orlow SJ, Shin HT, Chamlin S, Schaffer JV, Paller AS. The misnomer “macrocephaly-cutis marmorata telangectatica congenita syndrome” report of 12 new cases and support for revising the name to macrocephaly-capillary malformation. Arch Dermatol. 2009; 145 (3): 287–293. PubMed.