Barber-Say syndrome (BSS) is a rare congenital ectodermal dysplasia with few cases reported in the literature. We describe a 9-year-old boy with congenital generalized hypertrichosis and multiple rhabdomyomatous mesenchymal hamartomas (RMHs) on his nose and periocular region. Next-generation sequencing, performed in DNA from a blood sample, and RMH tissue, revealed a pathogenic variant in the TWIST2 gene, which was not detected in a salivary sample of the patient, nor in his parents. Therefore, we consider this variant as de novo mosaicism. To our knowledge, this is the first case of multiple RMHs associated with BSS.

Ablepharon-macrostomia syndrome (AMS) and Barber-Say syndrome (BSS) are congenital ectodermal dysplasias associated with mutations in the TWIST2 gene. Among the ophthalmic anomalies that occur in these syndromes, underdevelopment of the anterior lamella of the eyelid is a defining feature. Reports of mosaic expression of TWIST2 mutations are extremely rare, with only five confirmed or suspected cases described to date. Mosaic expression of TWIST2 variants is correlated with a less severe phenotype than that reported for the typical expression of TWIST2 variants associated with BSS or AMS. Abnormal development of the anterior lamella appears to be a common feature in all cases of AMS with mosaic expression. Here, we describe the phenotype of a patient with mosaic expression of a TWIST2 mutation that is typically associated with AMS. We additionally describe the surgical approach employed in the treatment of this patient.

Barber Say syndrome (BSS) is a rare ectodermal dysplasia with neonatal onset characterized by congenital generalized hypertrichosis, atrophic skin, ectropion and macrostomia. A literature review showed less than 20 previously reported cases of Barber Say syndrome. This presentation reports a one day old female with syndrome face, low hairline, coarse face, macrostomia, thin upper lip, bilateral ectropion and hypertelorism, hypertrichosis, senile skin appearance, hypoplastic nipples and one area of mild skin atrophy. These findings are consistent with BSS.

Barber-Say syndrome is an unusual dysplasia caused by the mutation of the TWIST2 gene (2q37.3), which encodes a protein that acts at an epigenetic level. The case is presented of a 2-day-old male child in whom ectropion, hypertelorism, hypertrichosis and other dysmorphic features led to the clinical diagnosis of Barber-Say syndrome, which was later confirmed with genetic tests. Around 20 cases have been reported on this syndrome, of which less than half have described the surgical technique, as it represents a surgical challenge. The approach in this case included a lateral tarsorrhaphy and skin grafts taken from the volar surface of the forearm, retroauricular area and supraclavicular fossa, as well as autologous lipografts from the inner side of both thighs for palpebral reconstruction. This is the first case of Barber-Say syndrome in which the use of skin grafts are taken from supraclavicular fossa and forearms.