Spondylocostal dysostosis is a group of conditions characterized by abnormal development of bones in the spine and ribs. The bones of the spine (vertebrae) are misshapen and abnormally joined together (fused). Many people with this condition have abnormal side-to-side curvature of the spine (scoliosis) due to malformation of the vertebrae. In addition to spinal abnormalities, some of the rib bones may be fused together or missing. Affected individuals have short, rigid necks and short torsos because of the bone malformations. As a result, people with spondylocostal dysostosis have short bodies but normal-length arms and legs, called short-trunk dwarfism.

The spine and rib abnormalities, which are present from birth, cause other signs and symptoms of spondylocostal dysostosis. Infants with this condition have small chests that cannot expand adequately, often leading to life-threatening breathing problems. As the lungs expand in the narrow chest, the muscle that separates the abdomen from the chest cavity (the diaphragm) is forced down and the abdomen is pushed out. The increased pressure in the abdomen can cause a soft out-pouching around the lower abdomen (inguinal hernia), particularly in males with spondylocostal dysostosis.

Some people with spondylocostal dysostosis also have a type of birth defect known as a neural tube defect. Neural tube defects occur when a structure called the neural tube, a layer of cells that ultimately develops into the brain and spinal cord, fails to close completely during the first few weeks of embryonic development. Examples of neural tube defects that occur in people with spondylocostal dysostosis include a spinal cord abnormality known as spina bifida and a brain abnormality called a Chiari malformation.

Although breathing problems can be fatal early in life, many affected individuals live into adulthood.

Spondylocostal dysostosis has often been grouped with a similar condition called spondylothoracic dysostosis, and both are sometimes called Jarcho-Levin syndrome; however, they are now considered distinct conditions.

Spondylocostal dysostosis is a rare condition, although its exact prevalence is unknown.

Mutations in several genes are known to cause spondylocostal dysostosis. The most common form of the condition, spondylocostal dysostosis type 1, is caused by mutations in the DLL3 gene. Mutations in other identified genes each account for a small number of cases of the condition.

The DLL3 gene and other genes involved in spondylocostal dysostosis play roles in the Notch signaling pathway, which is important in embryonic development. One of the functions of Notch signaling is directing the separation of future vertebrae and ribs from one another during early development, a process called somite segmentation. When the Notch signaling pathway is disrupted, somite segmentation does not occur properly, resulting in the malformation and fusion of the bones of the spine and ribs seen in spondylocostal dysostosis.

Mutations in the identified genes account for approximately 25 percent of cases of spondylocostal dysostosis. Researchers suggest that additional genes involved in the Notch signaling pathway might also be associated with the condition.

Genetic Testing Information

• Genetic Testing Registry: Spondylocostal dysostosis
• Genetic Testing Registry: Spondylocostal dysostosis 1, autosomal recessive
• Genetic Testing Registry: Spondylocostal dysostosis 2, autosomal recessive
• Genetic Testing Registry: Spondylocostal dysostosis 3, autosomal recessive
• Genetic Testing Registry: Spondylocostal dysostosis 4, autosomal recessive
• Genetic Testing Registry: Spondylocostal dysostosis 5
• Genetic Testing Registry: Spondylocostal dysostosis 6, autosomal recessive

Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center

• Spondylocostal dysostosis

Patient Support and Advocacy Resources

• National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)

Catalog of Genes and Diseases from OMIM

• SPONDYLOCOSTAL DYSOSTOSIS 5; SCDO5
• SPONDYLOCOSTAL DYSOSTOSIS 1, AUTOSOMAL RECESSIVE; SCDO1
• SPONDYLOCOSTAL DYSOSTOSIS 2, AUTOSOMAL RECESSIVE; SCDO2
• SPONDYLOCOSTAL DYSOSTOSIS 3, AUTOSOMAL RECESSIVE; SCDO3
• SPONDYLOCOSTAL DYSOSTOSIS 4, AUTOSOMAL RECESSIVE; SCDO4
• SPONDYLOCOSTAL DYSOSTOSIS 6, AUTOSOMAL RECESSIVE; SCDO6

Scientific Articles on PubMed

• PubMed

• Alatas I, Canaz H, Akkoyun N, Er A, Demirhan O, Kizilay D, Emel E. Neural tube defects in Jarcho-Levin syndrome: study of twenty-eight cases. Pediatr Neurosurg. 2015;50(2):57-62. doi: 10.1159/000380770. Epub 2015 Mar 17. Citation on PubMed
• Berdon WE, Lampl BS, Cornier AS, Ramirez N, Turnpenny PD, Vitale MG, Seimon LP, Cowles RA. Clinical and radiological distinction between spondylothoracic dysostosis (Lavy-Moseley syndrome) and spondylocostal dysostosis (Jarcho-Levin syndrome). Pediatr Radiol. 2011 Mar;41(3):384-8. doi: 10.1007/s00247-010-1928-8. Epub 2010 Dec 22. Citation on PubMed
• Bulman MP, Kusumi K, Frayling TM, McKeown C, Garrett C, Lander ES, Krumlauf R, Hattersley AT, Ellard S, Turnpenny PD. Mutations in the human delta homologue, DLL3, cause axial skeletal defects in spondylocostal dysostosis. Nat Genet. 2000 Apr;24(4):438-41. doi: 10.1038/74307. Citation on PubMed
• Dunwoodie SL. Reprint of mutation of the fucose-specific beta1,3 N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase LFNG results in abnormal formation of the spine. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2009 Sep;1792(9):862-73. Citation on PubMed
• Gucev ZS, Tasic V, Pop-Jordanova N, Sparrow DB, Dunwoodie SL, Ellard S, Young E, Turnpenny PD. Autosomal dominant spondylocostal dysostosis in three generations of a Macedonian family: Negative mutation analysis of DLL3, MESP2, HES7, and LFNG. Am J Med Genet A. 2010 Jun;152A(6):1378-82. doi: 10.1002/ajmg.a.33471. Citation on PubMed
• McInerney-Leo AM, Sparrow DB, Harris JE, Gardiner BB, Marshall MS, O'Reilly VC, Shi H, Brown MA, Leo PJ, Zankl A, Dunwoodie SL, Duncan EL. Compound heterozygous mutations in RIPPLY2 associated with vertebral segmentation defects. Hum Mol Genet. 2015 Mar 1;24(5):1234-42. doi: 10.1093/hmg/ddu534. Epub 2014 Oct 24. Citation on PubMed
• Sparrow DB, Chapman G, Turnpenny PD, Dunwoodie SL. Disruption of the somitic molecular clock causes abnormal vertebral segmentation. Birth Defects Res C Embryo Today. 2007 Jun;81(2):93-110. doi: 10.1002/bdrc.20093. Citation on PubMed
• Sparrow DB, Guillen-Navarro E, Fatkin D, Dunwoodie SL. Mutation of Hairy-and-Enhancer-of-Split-7 in humans causes spondylocostal dysostosis. Hum Mol Genet. 2008 Dec 1;17(23):3761-6. doi: 10.1093/hmg/ddn272. Epub 2008 Sep 5. Citation on PubMed
• Sparrow DB, McInerney-Leo A, Gucev ZS, Gardiner B, Marshall M, Leo PJ, Chapman DL, Tasic V, Shishko A, Brown MA, Duncan EL, Dunwoodie SL. Autosomal dominant spondylocostal dysostosis is caused by mutation in TBX6. Hum Mol Genet. 2013 Apr 15;22(8):1625-31. doi: 10.1093/hmg/ddt012. Epub 2013 Jan 17. Citation on PubMed
• Whittock NV, Sparrow DB, Wouters MA, Sillence D, Ellard S, Dunwoodie SL, Turnpenny PD. Mutated MESP2 causes spondylocostal dysostosis in humans. Am J Hum Genet. 2004 Jun;74(6):1249-54. doi: 10.1086/421053. Epub 2004 Apr 30. Citation on PubMed or Free article on PubMed Central