A New Born Is Observed To Have Low Set Ears

A new born male baby is examined in the nursery and is observed to have low set ears:

What are the possible underlying causes?

Imaginary line drawn between inner and outer canthi of the eyes should bisect the ears into upper one-third and lower two third portions. Normally 1/3rd of the ear comes above this line. When less than 20% comes above this line, it is low set ear.

Differential diagnosis include:


 Down syndrome
 Renal agenesis (Potter facies)
 Turner’s syndrome
 Trisomy 17-18, 13-15
 Treacher-Collins syndrome
 Cri-du-chat syndrome
 Apert syndrome.