Background

Infantile systemic hyalinosis (ISH) and juvenile hyaline fibromatosis (JHF) are two variants of Hyaline fibromatosis syndrome (HFS). JHF is the mild form, and ISH is the severe form [1]. Non-cancerous papulonodular lesions are the hallmark of the diagnosis of ISH. The appearance of lesions in areas of mechanical stress may suggest that microtrauma repair mechanisms are involved in developing these lesions. The treatment for ISH aims to improve the patient's quality of life through palliative care [2].

Infantile systemic hyalinosis (ISH) is a genetic condition that is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner. It is typically identified by the appearance of skin lesions during infancy, along with other associated symptoms. Progressive deposition of amorphous hyaline material in different tissues of vital organs could lead to various presentations. Infantile Systemic Hyalinosis (ISH) typically manifests at birth or during the initial months of life. This condition is often diagnosed by reduced spontaneous movements due to progressive joint contractures [3].

The most important clinical manifestations of ISH are progressive skin thickening, short stature, gingival hypertrophy, hyper-pigmented patches on bony prominences, and fleshy nodules (particularly in the perianal region), and the presence of Osteopenia may lead to increased susceptibility to bone fractures. Children affected by deposition disorders are at risk of frequent infections and/or intractable diarrhea, which is due to protein-losing enteropathy. Unfortunately, these children often pass away in infancy due to organ failure [1].

Zimmermann-Laband Syndrome (ZLS) is a sporadic craniofacial malformation syndrome characterized by specific oral features of diffuse gingival fibromatosis in early childhood [4, 5]. Its prevalence is reported to be less than 1/1000000 of the population [6]. The syndrome is characterized by various symptoms, including gingival fibromatosis, seizure, dysplastic or absent fingernails, hypertrichosis, hirsutism and abnormalities in nose and/or ears anatomy [7]. Other reported symptoms related to the syndrome in the literature include colpocephaly, hemivertebra, polydactyly, segmental hyperpigmentation, and hemi facial hyperplasia, which expand the phenotypic spectrum of the disease [8, 9]. Reports indicate that the cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and nervous systems are also affected. Many patients experience cosmetic and functional issues due to hereditary gingival fibromatosis [10].

Researchers mentioned facial and extremities disorders involved ear thickness, cartilage softness, nose prominence, gingival overgrowth, nail aplasia or hypoplasia, and type B brachydactyly. Other studies reported hirsutism, mental disability, and visceral organ involvement. A wide range of clinical manifestations were reported. Some cases were diagnosed during childhood, while others were already adults [9, 11, 12]. Mental retardation was present in some cases, while others had an average IQ score. The primary differential diagnosis for ZLS includes variants of Hyaline Fibromatosis Syndrome, syndromes with Gingival Fibromatosis, and other similar disorders. Gingival hypoplasia of the distal phalanges, scoliosis, abnormal fingers, hepatomegaly/splenomegaly,

fibromatosis (GF) is a rare condition that may be linked to specific syndromes. It can cause excessive growth of gum tissue, which may partially or entirely cover teeth. Clinicians can benefit from understanding the differential diagnosis of gingival fibromatosis, as it can aid in distinguishing ZLS through a more straightforward approach [13, 14]. Genetic evaluation in ZLS was also applied for research goals [7, 15]. Typically, ZLS is inherited through an autosomal dominant trait, though there have also been reports of autosomal recessive inheritance [16].

In severe situations, it may be necessary to surgically remove the hyperplastic fibrous tissue to uncover teeth that are embedded [17]. While the syndrome is not fatal, the prognosis is based on the severity of the manifestations [2].

The present study aimed to report an 18-month-old female patient with overlapping features of ZLS and ISH. A literature review was conducted to gather the latest information about these syndromes and provide insights into their clinical presentations. To obtain the related articles, international databases of PubMed and Scopus were searched with defined structural MeSH and non-MeSH keywords infantile systemic hyalinosis, Hyaline fibromatosis syndrome, papulonodular lesions, and Zimmermann-Laband Syndrome. This particular case has been reported by specialists in oral medicine and oral and maxillofacial surgery, despite previous cases reported by other medical specialties. The case highlights the significance of gingival fibromatosis as a diagnostic milestone and can assist clinicians in accurately diagnosing and distinguishing similar differential diagnoses.

Case presentation

An 18-month-old female patient was referred to an oral medicine specialist due to gingival enlargement. The chief complaint was an excessive gingival overgrowth of the anterior region of the mouth, which had covered all deciduous teeth eight months ago (Fig. 1). The patient was born to a 25-year-old woman and her healthy 38-year-old husband, who were in a consanguineous marriage. The patient was their only child.

Fig. 1
figure 1

Head and neck features. A and B) Diffused papulo-nodular lesions on ear helixes. C Multiple papulo-nodular lesions on neck

Full size image

Her parents appeared healthy. The mother experienced pregnancy without any complications or noteworthy events. Her birth history indicates that she was born at full term (39 weeks) through expected spontaneous vaginal delivery.

According to the parents’ information, one of their siblings died at the age of 6 months. The cause of his death was severe diarrhea with no definite diagnosis. They stated that he had pigmented patches on his knees, similar to the patient. The dead child seemed to have the same disorder as the reported patient.

Her growth and development were regularly evaluated and compared to typical growth charts throughout the first four months of the patient's life. However, at six months, the child began to display skin-related symptoms and signs of flexion deformities. As a result, the patient was admitted for further investigation regarding muscle hypotonia, recurring diarrhea, and diagnostic workup. While laboratory tests were within the normal range, mild leukocytosis, anemia, and C-reactive protein(CRP) = 3 + were noted. Additionally, the patient's medical history highlighted recurrent chest infections.

Clinical examination revealed short stature, hypoplasia of the distal phalanges, scoliosis, and hepatosplenomegaly. On cutaneous examination, hypertrichosis was found. Diffused violaceous papula-nodular lesions were observed on her ear helixes, neck, and napkin area, and Contractures and flexion deformity presented at both knee joints (Fig. 2).

Fig. 2
figure 2

A-D) Extremities feature. E Contractures and symmetrical skin patches around knees, F) The multiple papula-nodular lesions in the napkin area

Full size image

At 20 months, the child's developmental monitoring revealed delayed growth. She could not sit, stand, walk, or crawl on all fours and could only speak a few words. However, her intelligence quotient (IQ) test indicated an average score. Hearing loss was ruled out based on the results of Transient-evoked otoacoustic emission (TEOAE) and OSM tests. More details are noted in Table 1.

Table 1 Clinical manifestations
Full size table

Head and neck examination revealed facial abnormalities composed of saddle nose and bilateral nodules around the nasal alae and over the ears. Swollen lips, hirsutism, hypertelorism, and coarse hair are shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

Fig. 3
figure 3

Head and neck MRI findings. No specific abnormal findings were seen in MRI. The condition of cerebral ventricles and other components is normal

Full size image

Intraoral examination revealed maxillofacial deformity, an extensive pale pink firm enlargement of gingiva involving the maxillary and the mandibular arches, alveolar ridge swelling, non-plaque induced gingival diseases and conditions, and anterior open bite. All erupted anterior teeth were covered entirely with gingiva fibromatosis. This growth had a monotonous base with a lobular surface. The palate was free of any lesions.

Upon reviewing her system, it was discovered that she had a limited range of motion in both her upper and lower limbs and muscle weakness. Ultrasonography confirmed the presence of hepatosplenomegaly, and she also had two symmetrical skin patches around her knees. However, her cardiac evaluation was found to be regular. Additionally, a brain MRI with and without contrast was reported as normal (Fig. 3).

Usually, clinical documents are enough to diagnose ZLS. Meanwhile, diagnosing gingival fibromatosis is typically done through a plain oral biopsy and confirmed after microscopic evaluation. An incisional biopsy of the lower lip and gingiva was performed in this case. The histological findings showed hyperplastic squamous epithelium overlying a collagenized fibrous stroma with sparse lymphocytic infiltration, which led to the diagnosis of gingival fibromatosis (Figs 4 and 5).

Fig. 4
figure 4

Histopathologic picture from × 4, × 10, and, × 40 magnification. In this view the hyalinization of epithelium, fusiform and round cells was founded

Full size image
Fig. 5
figure 5

Gingival fibromatosis view of the patient

Full size image

About one year after the biopsy, in periodic follow-ups, it was discovered that her head and neck papules had worsened, particularly on the back of her neck. Her body rigidity had also deteriorated to the point where she could not sit in a dental chair or use her hands to eat at just 2.5 years old. However, there were no signs of any mental issues, and she could speak like an average 2-year-old child.

Eight months after oral surgery, there was a relapse in lip prominence. Despite regular teeth eruption, poor oral hygiene was observed due to difficulty accessing the mouth. These new presentations appear to be linked to managing systemic conditions.

Discussion

ZLS has overlapping manifestations with some disorders, including FHEIG syndrome. This syndrome is known for its facial dysmorphism, hypertrichosis, epilepsy, intellectual disability/developmental delay, and gingival overgrowth. However, after examining the case, it was determined that the diagnostic criteria for FHEIG syndrome did not apply, and it was ruled out as a possibility.

Dermatologists suggested ISH as the first diagnosis based on cutaneous lesions on the peri-nasal and auricle [18]. After examining the patient, the dermatologist confirmed the diagnosis of hyalinized fibrous material in nodules. This syndrome is identified by amorphous hyaline material deposited in various solid organs. Due to the severity of the disorder, it can affect multiple organs such as the gastrointestinal tract, heart, adrenals, spleen, thyroid, and adrenal glands, which can lead to multi-organ failure and potentially result in death [19].

The patient was recommended to undergo a genetic evaluation based on the results. The genetic counselor suggested the possibility of "Snijders Blok-Campeau syndrome" due to a mutation found in Exon 1 of the CHD3 gene in location NM-001005271. This syndrome exhibits neurological symptoms and affects the orofacial structures and musculoskeletal system, not the skin. Other symptoms include hypotonia, hearing loss, widely spaced eyes, midface hypoplasia, low-set ears, broad nasal base, joint laxity, and broad forehead [20]. However, we found that the patient's symptoms did not match those of this disorder.

Despite familial aggregation, different inheritance patterns have been registered. Based on current knowledge, the most confirmed ZLS is inherited in an autosomal dominant inheritance, usually resulting from a de novo mutation [21, 22]. conversely, ISH is typically inherited in an autosomal recessive manner. Nevertheless, the phenotype of another candidate gene of KDSR has been ruled out [3].

This particular condition shares similarities with ISH regarding age, skin manifestations, and orofacial expressions, particularly regarding the prominence of the lower lip. It is typically caused by the deposition of amorphous hyaline material [2]. However, our case did not exhibit the typical hyperpigmentation seen in ISH, which is usually concentrated around the metacarpophalangeal (MCP), proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joints, and the malleoli. Instead, our patient had hyperpigmentation on both knees. A comparison of three probable diagnoses and the presented case is provided in Table 2.

Table 2 Comparison of the case and three probable diagnoses
Full size table

She had a gingivectomy procedure at age two to treat his gingival fibromatosis. An oral and maxillofacial surgeon carried out the surgery while she was under general anesthesia. However, six months after the surgery, the condition recurred. Despite this, she did not experience any significant issues with eating or breathing.

In other words, some diverse clinical presentations appear to be a multitude of diseases manifesting as asymptomatic carriers among the siblings and relatives of rare cases. Interestingly, the genetic carriers (with the late manifestation of the disorders) are more frequent than the subjects with the severe type of ISH and ZLS.

As far as we know, our patient is only the second case of ZLS-related symptoms diagnosed in children under the age of two. Although other medical professionals have reported similar cases, oral medicine specialists and oral and maxillofacial surgeons diagnosed this particular case based on the enlargement of the patient's gingival fibromatosis. Molecular genetic testing is currently only available for research purposes. Currently, ISH and ZLS diagnoses are based solely on clinical observations [2, 7]. Pediatricians and clinicians have underestimated the frequency of hereditary conditions like ISH or ZLS in children due to the diverse and confusing symptoms they present. These conditions progress slowly but can have devastating outcomes.

Tests for genetic syndromes that fall into the intermediary group can often provide inaccurate results, which can be frustrating for families already dealing with the long-term effects of slowly progressing genetic abnormalities that are not fully understood.

Conclusion

In this case, the patient's symptoms fell somewhere between ISH and ZLS syndromes. However, genetic analysis results did not fully correspond to either of these conditions. It's worth noting that ZLS syndrome is still not fully understood due to its ambiguous symptoms. Nevertheless, an accurate and timely diagnosis is crucial for effective treatment and to prevent any further complications. It's worth noting that dentists can also play a significant role in diagnosing rare conditions like ZLS.