A distinct lethal neonatal chondrodysplasia with snail-like pelvis: Schneckenbecken dysplasia.

We describe the clinical, radiographic, histopathologic, and ultrastructural features of a distinct neonatal lethal chondrodysplasia inherited as an autosomal recessive trait. The characteristic radiographic findings consist of flattened, hypoplastic vertebral bodies; short ribs; hypoplastic iliac bones with "a snail-like" configuration; short, broad long-bones with dumbbell-like appearance; short and wide fibula; and precocious ossification of the tarsus. Chondro-osseous histology is characteristic with hypervascularity, increased cellular density, and normal size chondrocytes with a centrally located round nucleus and absence of lacunar space. Because of the snail-like radiographic appearance of the pelvis in this disorder, we propose the name "Schneckenbecken dysplasia" (ie, German for snail pelvis).