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Living with Distal trisomy 22q

A rare chromosome condition with learning and developmental delays, slow growth, low muscle tone, and distinct facial features.

Understanding Distal trisomy 22q

Distal trisomy 22q is a rare condition caused by an extra piece of the long arm of chromosome 22.

People with this condition may have intellectual disability and developmental delay that range from mild to more significant. Growth is slow before and after birth, and muscle tone is low. Facial features can include a small head and a cleft lip or palate. Heart, brain, bone, kidney, and genital differences have also been reported. Signs begin during pregnancy or in the newborn period.

Signs & symptoms

GARD doesn't list specific symptoms for this condition separately, but the summary describes these features:

  • Intellectual disability
  • Delays in development
  • Slow growth
  • Low muscle tone (hypotonia)
  • Small head size (microcephaly)
  • Cleft lip or palate

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 kidney tests does my child need?
Who should treat cleft lip or palate?
What therapies could help with growth and development?

Quick facts

Symptoms usually startduring Pregnancy and as a Newborn

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 22.

Genetic

Also known as: distal duplication 22q; distal trisomy 22q syndrome; distal trisomy type 22q; telomeric duplication 22q; trisomy 22qter

Patient organizations

Broader rare-disease groups

Source: NIH GARD · Distal trisomy 22qGARD ID 19322 · 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 22q.

Explore the Distal trisomy 22q blog

Explore research for Distal trisomy 22q

Explore actively recruiting Distal trisomy 22q studies with HealthSpark.

HealthSpark

Find actively recruiting studies for Distal trisomy 22q 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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