The Marshall-Smith syndrome is characterised by a triad of facial dysmorphism, failure to thrive and accelerated osseous
maturation. We report a further case of this rare syndrome with the unusual but previously reported complication of laryngeal
hypoplasia and review the associated laryngeal anomalies that have been reported to date.
Conclusion Severe airway obstruction due to congenital anomalies must be excluded in any dysmorphic child presenting with respiratory
distress at birth. Rapid airway assessment will enable early and appropriate intervention and may be important when deciding
on the long-term plan for the infant.
Key words Marshall-Smith syndrome - Accelerated osseus maturation - Laryngeal anomalies
Received: 28 March 1996 and in revised form: 13 November 1996 / Accepted: 13 November 1996