Abstract

A phenotypically normal woman has an apparently balanced reciprocal translocation between chromosomes No. 9 and No. 18 (translocation 9p-; 18p+), which was transmitted in an unbalanced state to an infant and a fetus. In the latter instance, chromosome analysis of cultured amniotic cells disclosed an abnormal karyotype, which was identical to that of the first affected child. The therapeutically aborted fetus was grossly abnormal and resembled the affected child. The physical features noted are those frequently associated with chromosome abnormalities, although not diagnostic for any specific syndrome. We presume that the chromosome abnormality in the affected offspring represents partial duplication of the short arm of chromosome No. 9 and partial deletion of the short arm of chromosome No. 18. No marked resemblance is noted between these cases and reported cases of trisomy 9 or of partial deletion of the short arm of 18.