Crouzon syndrome

Crouzon syndrome
Other names	Brachial arch syndrome
Baby with Crouzon syndrome
Specialty	Medical genetics

Crouzon syndrome is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder known as a branchial arch syndrome. Specifically, this syndrome affects the first branchial (or pharyngeal) arch, which is the precursor of the maxilla and mandible. Because the branchial arches are important developmental features in a growing embryo, disturbances in their development create lasting and widespread effects. The syndrome is caused by a mutation in a gene on chromosome 10 that controls the body's production of fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2).

Crouzon syndrome is named for Octave Crouzon,^[1][2] a French physician who first described this disorder. First called "craniofacial dysostosis" ("craniofacial" refers to the skull and face, and "dysostosis" refers to malformation of bone), the disorder was characterized by a number of clinical features which can be described by the rudimentary meanings of its former name. The developing fetus's skull and facial bones fuse early or are unable to expand. Thus, normal bone growth cannot occur. Fusion of different sutures leads to abnormal patterns of growth of the skull.