Contributor: Gordon K. Klintworth
Walt Disney dwarfism (geroderma osteodysplasticum, OMIM #231070) is a special type of inherited dwarfism associated with changes in the skin that suggest precocious aging and abnormalities of the bone. The osseous abnormalities include osteoporosis and multiple lines that resemble the growth rings in trees. The osteoporosis can predispose to fractures. The condition was initially reported by Bamatter et al. in 1950. A resemblance of the dwarfism to the that present in the seven dwarfs created by Walt Disney gave rise to the connotation Walt Disney dwalfism.  The mode of inheritance is uncertain. Some families suggest an autosomal recessive inheritance; others suggest X-linked recessive with occasional manifestations in heroygous females. The skin is lax, but not hyperelastic. The differential diagnosis includes Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. The disorder may overlap with the wrinkly skin syndrome