Telecanthus: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 05:12, 16 February 2025

Telecanthus[edit]

Diagram illustrating dystopia canthorum, a condition related to telecanthus.

Telecanthus is a medical condition characterized by an increased distance between the medial canthi of the eyes, with a normal interpupillary distance. This condition is often confused with hypertelorism, which involves an increased distance between the bony orbits. Telecanthus is primarily a soft tissue abnormality, whereas hypertelorism is a bony abnormality.

Anatomy and Pathophysiology[edit]

The medial canthi are the corners of the eyes where the upper and lower eyelids meet near the nose. In telecanthus, the increased distance between these points is due to an abnormality in the soft tissues, particularly the medial canthal tendon. This can result in a characteristic appearance where the eyes appear to be spaced further apart than normal, despite the bony orbits being correctly positioned.

Causes[edit]

Telecanthus can be congenital or acquired. Congenital telecanthus is often associated with genetic syndromes such as Waardenburg syndrome, Down syndrome, and Noonan syndrome. Acquired telecanthus can result from trauma, surgery, or other conditions affecting the medial canthal region.

Congenital Causes[edit]

Waardenburg syndrome: A genetic disorder characterized by varying degrees of deafness, minor defects in structures arising from the neural crest, and pigmentation changes.
Down syndrome: A genetic disorder caused by the presence of all or part of a third copy of chromosome 21.
Noonan syndrome: A genetic disorder that causes abnormal development in various parts of the body.

Acquired Causes[edit]

Trauma: Injury to the medial canthal region can disrupt the normal anatomy and lead to telecanthus.
Surgical complications: Procedures involving the nasal bridge or eyelids can sometimes result in telecanthus if the medial canthal tendon is affected.

Diagnosis[edit]

Diagnosis of telecanthus involves clinical examination and measurement of the intercanthal distance. The normal intercanthal distance varies with age and ethnicity, but it is generally considered to be around 30-34 mm in adults. An increased intercanthal distance with a normal interpupillary distance suggests telecanthus.

Treatment[edit]

Treatment of telecanthus depends on the underlying cause and the severity of the condition. In cases where telecanthus is part of a syndrome, management of the syndrome as a whole is necessary. Surgical correction may be considered for cosmetic reasons or if the condition affects vision.

Related pages[edit]

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-Telecanthus is a medical condition characterized by an abnormally increased distance between the inner corners of the eyes. This condition can be present at birth or develop later in life due to various factors. The term "telecanthus" is derived from the Greek words "tele," meaning distant, and "kanthos," meaning corner of the eye.
+== Telecanthus ==
+[[File:Dystopia_canthorum_diagram.png|thumb|right|Diagram illustrating dystopia canthorum, a condition related to telecanthus.]]
+'''Telecanthus''' is a medical condition characterized by an increased distance between the medial canthi of the eyes, with a normal interpupillary distance. This condition is often confused with [[hypertelorism]], which involves an increased distance between the bony orbits. Telecanthus is primarily a soft tissue abnormality, whereas hypertelorism is a bony abnormality.
+== Anatomy and Pathophysiology ==
+The medial canthi are the corners of the eyes where the upper and lower eyelids meet near the nose. In telecanthus, the increased distance between these points is due to an abnormality in the soft tissues, particularly the [[medial canthal tendon]]. This can result in a characteristic appearance where the eyes appear to be spaced further apart than normal, despite the bony orbits being correctly positioned.
 == Causes ==
-Telecanthus can be caused by a variety of factors, including genetic abnormalities, craniofacial syndromes, trauma to the face, or certain medical conditions. In some cases, telecanthus may be associated with conditions such as Down syndrome, Apert syndrome, or Crouzon syndrome.
-== Symptoms ==
+Telecanthus can be congenital or acquired. Congenital telecanthus is often associated with genetic syndromes such as [[Waardenburg syndrome]], [[Down syndrome]], and [[Noonan syndrome]]. Acquired telecanthus can result from trauma, surgery, or other conditions affecting the medial canthal region.
-The primary symptom of telecanthus is the increased distance between the inner corners of the eyes. This can result in a widened appearance of the face and may affect the overall symmetry of the facial features. In severe cases, telecanthus can impact vision and may require corrective treatment.
+=== Congenital Causes ===
+* '''[[Waardenburg syndrome]]''': A genetic disorder characterized by varying degrees of deafness, minor defects in structures arising from the neural crest, and pigmentation changes.
+* '''[[Down syndrome]]''': A genetic disorder caused by the presence of all or part of a third copy of chromosome 21.
+* '''[[Noonan syndrome]]''': A genetic disorder that causes abnormal development in various parts of the body.
+=== Acquired Causes ===
+* '''Trauma''': Injury to the medial canthal region can disrupt the normal anatomy and lead to telecanthus.
+* '''Surgical complications''': Procedures involving the nasal bridge or eyelids can sometimes result in telecanthus if the medial canthal tendon is affected.
 == Diagnosis ==
-Diagnosis of telecanthus typically involves a physical examination by a healthcare provider, including measurements of the distance between the inner corners of the eyes. In some cases, imaging studies such as X-rays or CT scans may be used to assess the underlying structures of the face and skull.
+Diagnosis of telecanthus involves clinical examination and measurement of the intercanthal distance. The normal intercanthal distance varies with age and ethnicity, but it is generally considered to be around 30-34 mm in adults. An increased intercanthal distance with a normal interpupillary distance suggests telecanthus.
 == Treatment ==
-Treatment for telecanthus depends on the underlying cause and severity of the condition. In some cases, no treatment may be necessary if the telecanthus is mild and does not cause any functional problems. However, for more severe cases or those associated with underlying syndromes, treatment options may include surgical correction to reposition the inner corners of the eyes closer together.
-== Prognosis ==
+Treatment of telecanthus depends on the underlying cause and the severity of the condition. In cases where telecanthus is part of a syndrome, management of the syndrome as a whole is necessary. Surgical correction may be considered for cosmetic reasons or if the condition affects vision.
-The prognosis for individuals with telecanthus varies depending on the underlying cause and the effectiveness of treatment. In cases where telecanthus is associated with a genetic syndrome, ongoing medical management may be necessary to address other potential health concerns.
+== Related pages ==
+* [[Hypertelorism]]
+* [[Waardenburg syndrome]]
+* [[Down syndrome]]
+* [[Noonan syndrome]]
-[[Category:Medical terminology]]
 [[Category:Ophthalmology]]
-{{medicine-stub}}
+[[Category:Congenital disorders]]