Turner’s
syndrome is a condition that affects only girls and women. It is the result
when a sex chromosome, the X chromosome, is missing or partially missing.
Turner syndrome can cause a variety of medical and developmental problems,
including short height, failure to start puberty, infertility, heart defects,
certain learning disabilities and social adjustment problems. However, signs
and symptoms of Turner syndrome may vary significantly. Turner syndrome affects
60,000 females in the United States. This disorder is seen in 1 of every 2,000
to 2,500 baby girls with about 800 new cases each year. These individuals develop biologically as girls,
but the presence of Y chromosome material increases the risk of developing a
type of cancer called gonadoblastoma. Gonadoblastoma is a rare benign tumor
that has the potential for a malignant transformation and affects sexual
development. About half of the cases are diagnosed within the
first few months of a girl’s life via symptoms such as swelling of the hands
and feet and heart defects. In some girls, a number of physical features and
poor growth are apparent early. Signs of Turner syndrome at birth or during
infancy may include wide or web-like neck, receding or small lower jaw,
high-narrow roof of mouth, low set ears, low hairline at the back of the head,
broad chest with widely spaced nipples, and short fingers and toes. In older
girls, teens and young woman signs and symptoms may not be readily apparent.
Some symptoms include no growth spurts, learning disabilities, and sexual
development that decreases during teenage years.