Meckel syndrome, type 6 is a severe congenital disorder defined by the presence of occipital encephalocele, cystic dysplasia of the kidneys, hepatic fibrosis and bile duct proliferation, and postaxial polydactyly of the hands and feet.  Other symptoms may include a cleft palate and club feet.  The prognosis of the disorder remains poor, with most cases resulting in in-utero or perinatal death. MKS does not have a gender bias and is found to affect between 1/13,250 to 1/140,000 live births. The disorder has been seen to be more prevalent in Finnish, Belgian, Gujarati Indian and Kuwaiti Bedouin populations. 

Diagnosis of the disorder can be made prenatally by ultrasound examinations as early as the 14th week of gestation.  Genetic analysis can be carried out by chorionic villus sampling to help confirm the diagnosis.  Currently there is no cure for Meckel syndrome and treatment is focused on alleviating symptoms.  Affected families may also benefit from genetic counselling. 

MKS6 follows an autosomal recessive pattern of inheritance.  It is caused by mutations in the CC2D2A gene, which encodes a ciliary protein that helps prevent the diffusion of transmembrane proteins between the cilia and plasma membranes.  The CC2D2A protein is also predicted to be involved in primary cilium assembly, determination of left/right symmetry and embryonic brain development.  Mutations in this gene associated with MKS6 usually include homozygous and compound heterozygous transitions and indels.