Wide-spread cone-shaped epiphyses in two Saudi siblings with Ellis-van Creveld syndrome.

INTRODUCTION: Ellis-van Creveld (EVC) syndrome is one of the rarest ciliopathy syndromes. It is caused by mutations of the EVC and EVC2 genes which encode the EVC proteins present in the basal body of the primary cilium.

PRESENTATION OF CASES: We report on a Saudi family with two affected children. Gene analysis revealed a homozygous c.2T >A in exon 1 of the EVC gene. The most interesting finding in our patients was the wide - spread cone-shaped epiphyses in the hands and feet.

DISCUSSION: Although cone-shaped epiphyses is a known feature of EVC syndrome, it usually limited to the middle or proximal phalanges. The wide-spread cone-shaped epiphyses seen in our patients have not been previously reported.

CONCLUSION: EVC syndrome is very rare in the Middle East. We report on the first Saudi family with EVC syndrome confirmed by gene analysis. The most unique finding in our patients was the wide-spread cone-shaped epiphyses in the hands and feet. The abnormality is probably related to abnormal Indian hedgehog signaling in the primary cilium.