MIAMI- Children and families from all over the world will travel to Nicklaus Children’s this month to take part in the Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome (BWS) Family Conference from June 24 to June 26. The event brings together families and medical professionals to discuss the latest medical treatments and support offerings for the syndrome, which affects one in 13,000 children.
BWS is a genetic congenital overgrowth syndrome with symptoms that can affect all systems of a child’s body. Many children with BWS are born prematurely and with a large birth weight. These children typically have varying symptoms such as an enlarged tongue, overgrowth of one half of the body, low blood sugar, hernias, liver tumors, or an enlarged heart. Because symptoms can vary in severity, some children may go undiagnosed or receive diagnosis later in life when secondary symptoms arise.
Dr. Chad Perlyn, Pediatric Plastic Surgeon at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, is one of few in the nation who specializes in the treatment of children with BWS, particularly craniofacial anomalies such as tongue reduction/reconstruction surgery.
“We have witnessed firsthand how these treatment techniques have changed the lives of children with the syndrome. It not only improves their quality of life physically, but also emotionally by improving their overall self-esteem,” said Dr. Perlyn.
The Center for Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome at Nicklaus Children’s is an experienced world-leader in the evaluation and treatment of children with BWS. The center offers a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to care that addresses the full scope of needs for families of children born with this congenital disorder. For more information, please visit
www.nicklauschildrens.org/beckwith.
About Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, Where Children Matter Most (2024)
Founded in 1950 by Variety Clubs International, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital is South
Florida’s only licensed specialty hospital exclusively for children, with approximately
850 attending physicians, including more than 500 pediatric subspecialists. The 307-bed
hospital is renowned for excellence in all aspects of pediatric medicine with many specialty programs
routinely ranked among the best in the nation by U.S. News & World Report since 2008. The
hospital is also home to the largest pediatric teaching program in the southeastern
United States and since 2003 has been designated an American Nurses Credentialing
Center (ANCC) Magnet facility, the nursing profession’s most prestigious institutional
honor. For more information, please visit www.nicklauschildrens.org.