RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Rothmund-Thomson syndrome: two case reports show heterogeneous cutaneous abnormalities, an association with genetically programmed ageing changes, and increased chromosomal radiosensitivity. JF Journal of Medical Genetics JO J Med Genet FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd SP 928 OP 934 DO 10.1136/jmg.33.11.928 VO 33 IS 11 A1 Kerr, B A1 Ashcroft, G S A1 Scott, D A1 Horan, M A A1 Ferguson, M W A1 Donnai, D YR 1996 UL http://jmg.bmj.com/content/33/11/928.abstract AB Rothmund-Thomson syndrome is a rare, autosomal recessive disorder associated with characteristic cutaneous changes, sparse hair, juvenile cataracts, short stature, skeletal defects, dystrophic teeth and nails, and hypogonadism. Mental retardation is unusual. An increased incidence of certain malignancies has been reported. Clonal or mosaic chromosome abnormalities and abnormalities in DNA repair mechanisms have been reported in some cases. We report two cases of Rothmund-Thomson syndrome, both with intellectual handicap, associated in one with a previously undescribed histological appearance of involved skin, suggesting that the spectrum of abnormalities is even more heterogeneous than previously presumed. Both cases exhibited chromosomal radiosensitivity of lymphocytes which may be an indication of a DNA repair defect. This is the first report of an association between Rothmund-Thomson syndrome and unique, intrinsic, age related skin changes.