Definition:

Patau syndrome, also known as trisomy 13, is a chromosomal disorder characterized by the severe clinical picture of multiple congenital anomalies. It is one of the least common autosomal trisomies among live births with an estimated prevalence of 1:12000 - 1:29000 in newborns. The major clinical findings include cryptorchidism, abnormal auricles, congenital heart defects, polydactyly, microphthalmia, and micrognathia. Median survival time for patients with trisomy 13 is between 7 and 10 days and it is reported that between 86% and 91% of live-born patients with Patau syndrome do not survive beyond 1 year of life. Survival beyond the first year has been associated with mosaicism.