Hemihypertrophy and hemihypotrophy.

Analysis of 30 patients with skeletal asymmetry indicates that hemihypertrophy and hemihypotrophy are separate and distinct clinical syndromes. Hemihypotrophy is often associated with scoliosis, mental retardation, and chromosomal mosaicism and occasionally associated with the Silver syndrome. It is not associated with childhood neoplasia. Limb-length inequality is usually mild. Hemihypertrophy is more common than hemihypotrophy and is sometimes associated with primitive neoplasms of the liver, adrenals and kidneys, as well as with benign organ growth aberrations. It is not normally associated with fixed scoliosis nor with mental retardation. Limb-length discrepancy usually requires surgical management. Family counseling and periodic assessment for neoplasia are indicated during childhood.