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Abstract

Dyskeratosis congenita (DKC) is a rare genodermatosis with multisystemic, life-threatening complications characterized by atrophy and pigmentation of the skin, nail dystrophy, leukoplakia of the oral mucosa, bone marrow failure and a predisposition to malignancy. Other clinical manifestations may include continuous lacrimation due to atresia of the lacrimal ducts, lung fibrosis, liver cirrhosis, osteoporosis and various neurological abnormalities including mental retardation and basal ganglia calcification (Chan 2006, Mason et al. 2005, Scoggings et al. 1971, Walne et al. 2005). The clinical picture often resembles that of a premature aging syndrome and tissues affected are those with a high cell turnover.

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Saez-De-Ocariz, M., Orozco-Covarrubias, L., Durán-McKinster, C., Ruiz-Maldonado, R. (2008). Dyskeratosis Congenita. In: Ruggieri, M., Pascual-Castroviejo, I., Di Rocco, C. (eds) Neurocutaneous Disorders Phakomatoses and Hamartoneoplastic Syndromes. Springer, Vienna. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-211-69500-5_44

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