Next-generation phenotyping contributing to the identification of a
non-coding deletion in KANSL1 causing Koolen-de Vries syndrome
Abstract
Next-generation phenotyping (NGP) is the application of advanced methods
of computer vision on medical imaging data such as portrait photos of
individuals with rare disorders. NGP on portraits results in gestalt
scores that can be used for the selection of appropriate genetic tests,
and for the interpretation of the molecular data. Here, we report on an
exceptional case of a young girl that was presented at the age of eight
and fifteen and enrolled in NGP diagnostics at the latter occasion. The
girl had clinical features associated with Koolen-de Vries syndrome and
a suggestive facial gestalt. However, chromosomal micro array (CMA),
Sanger sequencing, multiplex ligation-dependent probe analysis (MLPA),
and trio exome sequencing remained inconclusive. Based on the highly
indicative gestalt score for Koolen-de Vries, the decision was made to
perform genome sequencing to also evaluate non-coding variants. This
analysis revealed a 4.7 kb deletion at the end of intron 6 of the KANSL1
gene, which is the smallest reported structural variant to date for this
phenotype. The case illustrates how NGP can be integrated into the
iterative diagnostic process of test selection and interpretation of
sequencing results.