First of all the authors summarize their present knowledge on the « brachydactylies », which consist of a large group of hereditary and congenital anomalies characterized by the shortness of two or three phalanges or metacarpi of the hands or feet. Then the authors describe a case of « brachytelephalangy » (shortness of terminal phalanges). The case concerns a boy of seven, who has brachytelephalangy in the 1st, 2nd, 3d and 5th fingers and the 3d, 4th and 5th toes. Alterations are bilateral and completely symmetrical.
The authors relate the radiologic aspects of the examined case, and, after having expressed a personal morphogenetical hypothesis on the radiologic picture itself, describe the genealogical tree of the patient. The hereditary nature of the malformation itself, which we find in other six members of the same family, is confirmed by a critical examination of this genealogical tree and by the study of the « Genius Familiaris » of the malformation, according to Gedda's conception.
The authors explain, then, the differential diagnostic criteria of the affection and, after having called the attention to some morphologic and clinical features of the examined case, they end by mentioning the rarity (only three cases in the previous literature) and the interest of the anomaly resulting from this radiologic-genetic study.