From Genes to Ambiguity: A Case Study Exploring the Enigmatic Connection Between Chromosome 13q Deletion Syndrome and Ambiguous Genitalia

Cureus. 2023 Sep 13;15(9):e45168. doi: 10.7759/cureus.45168. eCollection 2023 Sep.

Abstract

During development, the deletion of DNA from chromosome 13's short arm (q) causes a chromosomal abnormality known as chromosome 13q deletion syndrome. Chromosome 13 terminal deletions are rare and may cause various congenital disabilities, and only a few cases have been reported in the literature. The extent of chromosome 13q deletion syndrome changes lacks consistent clinical features, with no recorded cases of genital ambiguity until now. We report the case of a newborn male patient whose testes had descended on both sides; he had ambiguous genitalia, and the dorsal surface of his penis was attached to his scrotal sac. An abnormal karyotype (46, XY, deletion (13) q33) was discovered by using a G-banding analysis of chromosomes in a blood sample taken from the periphery, which revealed a deletion of chromosome 13 at the end of the first 10 cells. We can better characterize chromosome 13q deletions by establishing stronger correlations between karyotype and the distinctive phenotypes of haploinsufficient genes found on the chromosome.

Keywords: 13q chromosome; chromosome deletion; cytogenetic analysis; cytogenetic disorders; urogenital abnormalities.

Publication types

  • Case Reports