It is a syndrome with multiple abnormalities, many of which are not compatible with more than a few months of life. Almost half of the affected infants do not survive beyond the first month and about three quarters die within six months.
Most infants have a cleft lip and cleft palate and low-set ears .
Hernias and genital abnormalities are common. Trisomy 13 mosaicism and partial trisomy 13 also occur. Parents of infants with translocation type trisomy 13 should also have translocation studies. Because of the severity of congenital defects, life-sustaining procedures are generally not attempted. Complications begin almost immediately.