Velo-Cardio-Facial Syndrome

Also known as: VCFS, velocardiofacial syndrome, chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, Shprintzen syndrome, craniofacial syndrome, DiGeorge syndrome, conotruncal anomaly face syndrome.

What is velo-cardio facial syndrome?

“Velo” in Latin means palate, “cardia” means heart, and “facies” relates to things of the face. Velo-cardio facial syndrome has a number of common features including a cleft palate, heart abnormalities, and a characteristic looking face, and many others.

What causes velo-cardio facial syndrome?

While the exact cause is unknown, many children with VCFS have a missing portion of chromosome 22. In some families (10-15%) the condition may be inherited; mostly however is occurs as a “sporadic mutation” without coming from either parent.

What are the signs/symptoms of velo-cardio facial syndrome?

A wide variety of signs/symptoms are related to velo-cardio facial syndrome (and not all may occur in a single child). Some of them include:

What are velo-cardio facial syndrome care options?

Depending on the system/s involved, a number of therapists are involved in helping patients with the disorder live the most fulfilling life possible. Your Nicklaus Children’s Hospital pediatric specialist team will discuss with you all the various treatment options and help and guide you so that your child can achieve his/her maximal potential. 


Reviewed by: Jack Wolfsdorf, MD, FAAP

This page was last updated on: July 10, 2020 02:08 PM