The size of the problem, can be assessed This book is an off-shoot of the computerized from the following. Of 50 children bom, 1 London Dysmorphology Database which is now widely used by many geneticists and will have an easily detectable major malfor­ mation. Many of these will have a single dysmorphologists. Both the database and this malformation, but in the region of 8 in 1000 book have arisen out of a need to cope with the ever increasing nurober of multiple will have multiple abnormalities. This group will include 50% with chromosomal disorders congenital anomaly syndromes, especially recognizable by performing a karyotype, the details about their features and where infor­ mation can be found in the Iiterature. Indeed rest needing tobe diagnosed by other means. there are more than 2000 non-chromosomal It is to the diagnosis of this latter group that this book is dedicated. multiple malformation syndromes to which access is essential. If computerized databases have solved THE DIAGNOSIS OF DYSMORPHIC some of the problems, why is there a need SYNDROMES for this book? There are many physicians who do not have a desk computer or do not History feel at ease in using one. In addition geneticists are doing more satellite clinics and Before identifying the specific dysmorphic in some circumstances it would be more features, at least a three generation family history needs to be taken. It is necessary to convenient to carry a book than a computer.