home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search
- $Unique_ID{BRK04088}
- $Pretitle{}
- $Title{Parry-Romberg Syndrome}
- $Subject{Parry-Romberg Syndrome Progressive Hemifacial Atrophy Romberg Disease
- Romberg Hemifacial Atrophy Romberg Trophoneurosis Facial Hemiatrophy
- Trigeminal Neuralgia Jacksonian Epilepsy Horner Syndrome Scleroderma}
- $Volume{}
- $Log{}
-
- Copyright (C) 1987, 1989 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.
-
- 489:
- Parry-Romberg Syndrome
-
- ** IMPORTANT **
- It is possible the main title of the article (Parry-Romberg Disease) is
- not the name you expected. Please check the SYNONYMS listing on the next
- page to find alternate names, disorder subdivisions, and related disorders
- covered by this article.
-
- Synonyms
-
- Progressive Hemifacial Atrophy
- Romberg Disease
- Romberg Hemifacial Atrophy
- Romberg Trophoneurosis
- Facial Hemiatrophy
-
- Information on the following diseases can be found in the Related
- Disorders section of this report:
-
- Scleroderma
- Trigeminal Neuralgia
- Jacksonian Epilepsy
- Horner Syndrome
-
- General Discussion
-
- ** REMINDER **
- The information contained in the Rare Disease Database is provided for
- educational purposes only. It should not be used for diagnostic or
- treatment purposes. If you wish to obtain more information about this
- disorder, please contact your personal physician and/or the agencies listed
- in the "Resources" section of this report.
-
- Parry-Romberg Syndrome is a slowly progressive wasting (atrophy) of the
- soft tissues of the face. The disorder is usually limited to half of the
- face. Pain may occur in the affected area, and changes of the eyes and
- facial hair can accompany soft tissue changes. Parry-Romberg Syndrome may
- also be associated with other disorders. It can begin without warning,
- usually during the second decade of life. Facial atrophy may cease abruptly
- or progress slowly and then become stationary.
-
- Symptoms
-
- Parry-Romberg Syndrome is characterized by soft tissue wasting (atrophy)
- limited to one side of the face which usually begins without warning. Pain
- can occur in short episodes on the affected side, similar to the pain
- associated with Trigeminal Neuralgia. Sensory impairment, abnormally
- diminished or increased sweating, and tear duct dysfunction may also involve
- the affected area. Facial features may be shifted toward the affected side, a
- painless furrow may appear in the brow or cheek, the eye and cheek may become
- sunken, and the eyebrows and facial hair turn white and then fall out.
- Atrophy rarely affects muscle or bone, but can spread to the soft palate,
- tongue, and mucous membranes of the gums. Some individuals with Parry-Romberg
- Syndrome may be affected by Jacksonian (focal) Epilepsy.
-
- Causes
-
- The exact cause of Parry-Romberg Syndrome is not known. It was first
- identified by Doctors Parry in 1825 and Romberg in 1846. Scientists believe
- the disorder may be related to irritation, injury, or nerve inflammation
- (neuritis) in the peripheral sympathetic nervous system. A lesion of the
- trigeminal nerve of the face may also cause this disorder. Some cases are
- thought to be a form of Scleroderma.
-
- Affected Population
-
- Parry-Romberg Syndrome is a rare disorder which affects males and females in
- equal numbers.
-
- Related Disorders
-
- Symptoms of the following disorders can be similar to those of Parry-Romberg
- Syndrome. Comparisons may be useful for a differential diagnosis:
-
- Scleroderma is a group of chronic disorders characterized by fibrosis,
- degenerative changes, vascular abnormalities and an excess of collagen in
- the skin. Scleroderma is the chronic hardening and shrinking of the
- connective tissues of any part of the body, although the term literally
- means "hardening of the skin". Many forms of this disorder exist. Some
- scientists believe Parry-Romberg Syndrome, which affects only the face and
- neck, may be a form of Scleroderma. (For more information on this disorder,
- choose "Scleroderma" as your search term in the Rare Disease Database).
-
- Horner Syndrome, also known as Cervical Sympathetic Paralysis Syndrome, is
- characterized by contraction of the pupils of the eyes (miosis), prominent
- eyeballs (exophthalmos), partially drooping eyelids (ptosis), and absence of
- sweating (anhidrosis) limited to the face and neck. The exact cause of some
- cases of Horner Syndrome are not known, although scientists believe it is
- either inherited or the result of injury to the neck (cervical sympathetic
- ganglia). Similar symptoms may affect nerves of the face and neck in some
- patients with Parry-Romberg Syndrome.
-
- The following disorders may be associated with Parry-Romberg Syndrome as
- secondary characteristics. They are not necessary for a differential
- diagnosis:
-
- Trigeminal Neuralgia, also known as Tic Douloureux, is a nerve disorder
- characterized by attacks of acute pain at the side of the mouth and nose,
- along distribution of the trigeminal nerve. Pain occurs in intense,
- extremely short episodes (usually only a few seconds), and may be triggered
- in affected individuals by brushing teeth, chewing, and/or extreme heat or
- cold. Often, symptoms are limited to one side of the face. Excessive
- salivation, tearing of the eyes or flushing of the skin may signal episodes.
- This disorder can occur in conjunction with some cases of Parry-Romberg
- Syndrome. (For more information on this disorder, choose "Trigeminal
- Neuralgia" as your search term in the Rare Disease Database).
-
- Jacksonian Epilepsy is a form of partial epilepsy, beginning with an
- isolated disturbance of nerve function such as twitching of a limb, and
- progressing along the limb muscles usually from the hand or foot toward the
- trunk of the body. (For more information on this disorder, choose "Jacksonian
- Epilepsy" as your search term in the Rare Disease Database).
-
- Therapies: Standard
-
- Treatment of Parry-Romberg Syndrome usually involves reconstructive and/or
- microvascular surgery. An injection of fat cells obtained by liposuction
- may be useful in some cases. Silicone implants can be used as well. Muscle
- or bone grafts are other procedures that may be helpful in some cases.
- Vision disturbances can be treated by an ophthalmologist. Other treatment
- is symptomatic and supportive.
-
- Therapies: Investigational
-
- This disease entry is based upon medical information available through
- April 1989. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to
- keep every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and
- accurate. Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section
- for the most current information about this disorder.
-
- Resources
-
- For more information on Parry-Romberg Disease, please contact:
-
- National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)
- P.O. Box 8923
- New Fairfield, CT 06812-1783
- (203) 746-6518
-
- FACES
- National Association for the Craniofacially Handicapped
- P.O. Box 11082
- Chattanooga, TN 37401
- (615) 266-1632
-
- Society for the Rehabilitation of the Facially Disfigured, Inc.
- 550 First Avenue
- New York, NY 10016
- (212) 340-5400
-
- National Craniofacial Foundation
- 3100 Carlisle Street, Suite 215
- Dallas, TX 75204
- (800) 535-3643
-
- NIH/National Institute of Neurological Disorders & Stroke (NINDS)
- 9000 Rockville Pike
- Bethesda, MD 20892
- (301) 496-5751
- (800) 352-9424
-
- NIH/National Institute of Dental Research (NIDR)
- 9000 Rockville Pike
- Bethesda, MD 20892
- (301) 496-4261
-
- References
-
- MENDELIAN INHERITANCE IN MAN, 7TH Ed.: Victor A. McKusick; Johns Hopkins
- University Press, 1986. P. 294.
-
- PROGRESSIVE HEMIFACIAL ATROPHY (PARRY-ROMBERG DISEASE): M.T. Miller, et
- al.; J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus (January-February 1987, issue 24(1)).
- Pp. 27-36.
-
- LIPOSUCTION FAT GRAFTS IN FACE WRINKLES AND HEMIFACIAL ATROPHY: A
- Chajchir, et al.; Aesthetic Plast Surg (1986, issue 10(2)). Pp. 115-117.
-
- THE USE OF FREE REVASCULARIZED GRAFTS IN THE AMELIORATION OF HEMIFACIAL
- ATROPHY: M.J. Jurkiewicz, et al.; Plast Reconstr Surg (July 1985, issue
- 76(1)). Pp. 44-55.
-
- HEMIFACIAL ATROPHY. A REVIEW OF AN UNUSUAL CRANIOFACIAL DEFORMITY WITH A
- REPORT OF A CASE: D.D. Dedo; Arch Otolaryngol (September 1978, issue
- 104(9)). Pp. 538-541.
-
-