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Living with Distal trisomy 17q

A rare chromosome condition with intellectual disability, delayed development, short height, and distinct facial and skeletal features.

Understanding Distal trisomy 17q

Distal trisomy 17q is a rare condition caused by an extra piece of the long arm of chromosome 17.

Features vary but often include intellectual disability, delays in development, and short height. Distinct facial features can include a small head, low hairline, and a short, webbed neck. Differences in the bones and limbs, loose joints, and heart, brain, and urinary and genital differences are common. Signs are present from the newborn period.

Signs & symptoms

Symptoms vary from person to person. GARD lists these among the most common:

  • Severe intellectual disability
  • Delays in overall development
  • Small head size (microcephaly)
  • Cleft palate
  • Extra fingers (polydactyly)
  • Short upper arms and thighs (rhizomelia)

Not everyone has every symptom. GARD's list comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology.

Diagnosis

  1. Talk with your doctor

    Share the symptoms you've noticed, when they started and your family health history. Notes and photos can help.

  2. See a specialist

    Specialists who may be involved include genetic specialists.

  3. Ask which tests can help

    Your care team will decide which exams and tests can confirm the diagnosis.

Care & treatment

Care team
Genetic specialists (geneticists)
Expert care
Ask about multidisciplinary care centers for rare conditions
Treatment
GARD doesn't list specific treatments for this condition. Your care team will tailor care to your symptoms.
Research
Clinical trials and observational studies may be options. See the research section below.

General information, not medical advice. Your care team makes the decisions.

Everyday life

Living with a rare condition is easier with support.

  • Connect with Chromosome Disorder Outreach
  • Keep notes on symptoms, changes and questions for appointments
  • Ask about patient registries that help research
  • Look into financial aid and travel resources for care visits
Bring these questions to your next doctor visit
What heart and brain tests does my child need?
Who should treat the cleft palate?
What early therapies could help my child?

Quick facts

Symptoms usually startNewborn

GARD says changes in a person's genes cause this condition. The summary describes it as an extra copy of part of the long arm of chromosome 17.

Genetic

Also known as: distal duplication 17q; distal trisomy 17q syndrome; distal trisomy type 17q; telomeric duplication 17q; trisomy 17qter

Patient organizations

Broader rare-disease groups

Source: NIH GARD · Distal trisomy 17qGARD ID 18794 · GARD page updated September 2026 · Plain-language summary by Know Rare; editorial review pending. General information, not medical advice.

You are more than your diagnosis

Perspectives from people navigating life with Distal trisomy 17q.

Explore the Distal trisomy 17q blog

Explore research for Distal trisomy 17q

Explore actively recruiting Distal trisomy 17q studies with HealthSpark.

HealthSpark

Find actively recruiting studies for Distal trisomy 17q with HealthSpark. Share your city to explore research near you.

  • Recruiting studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
  • Share your city to look for research near you
  • Eligibility is confirmed by the study team

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Powered by HealthSpark, our AI chat helper · Study information from ClinicalTrials.gov · Eligibility is confirmed by the study team.

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