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Sirenomelia: Case reports and current concepts of pathogenesis

Publication Type : Journal Article

Thematic Areas : Medical Sciences

Publisher : Pediatric and Developmental Pathology

Source : Pediatric and Developmental Pathology, Volume 15, Number 5, p.403-406 (2016)

Url : http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84870016766&partnerID=40&md5=f8f039160550ef93dfabfd4d23b9617f

Keywords : article, autopsy, bone disease, case report, coccygeal bone, Ectromelia, female, fetus, genital system, germ cell, hand malformation, human, Humans, index finger, intrauterine growth retardation, kidney agenesis, ossification, ovary follicle, pathogenesis, Pregnancy, prenatal diagnosis, priority journal, renal artery, rib, sirenomelia, thumb, Umbilical Arteries, vertebra body

Campus : Kochi

School : School of Medicine

Department : Anatomy, Paediatrics, Pathology

Year : 2016

Abstract : We present 2 cases of sirenomelia and highlight the recent theories about its pathogenesis. Both cases had a large aberrant abdominal umbilical artery (AAUA) arising from the aorta, suggesting vascular steal as the pathophysiology. However, the bilateral upper limb defects noted in 1 case, the reported 10% association of holoprosencephaly and anencephaly, and the reports of sirenomelia with normal umbilical arteries point to the alternative caudal dysgenesis (CD) theory. This proposes that an insult at the early blastogenic stage interferes with the formation of the notochord, resulting in abnormal development of caudal structures, an AAUA, and occasional neural tube defects. We have also analyzed the implications of the similarities between sirenomelia/CD and the VATER association; the increased risk of CD but not sirenomelia in infants of diabetic mothers; the fact that sirenomelia, holoprosencephaly, and the VATER association are all more common in monozygotic twins; the experimental production of sirenomelia in mice; and the possible genetic implications of the co-occurrence of sirenomelia and CD. © 2012 Society for Pediatric Pathology.

Cite this Research Publication : Ma Pillay, Yesodharan, Db, Narayanan, D. Lb, Jojo, Ac, Luiz, Nd, and Nampoothiri, Se, “Sirenomelia: Case reports and current concepts of pathogenesis”, Pediatric and Developmental Pathology, vol. 15, pp. 403-406, 2016.

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