Rare association of cyclopia with craniospinal rachischisis

Cyclopia is a severe form of holoprosencephaly which results in children being born with just one eye, absence of nose and presence of a proboscis above the median eye. Incidence of cyclopia is around 1.05 in 1, 00,000 births, including stillbirths. The association of anencephaly with spinal rachichisis varies from 17-50%. However, the existence of cyclopia with anencephaly and spinal rachischisis has been reported only in 9 cases till date. We report one more case of cyclopia with anencephaly and spinal rachischisis. Awareness of this spectrum of association with cyclopia, albeit rare, will help in early antenatal diagnosis by fetal ultrasonography. Public education and strict adherence to folic acid supplementation can prevent this unfortunate anomaly.

Spina Bifida - A Retrospective Study

Background: The occurrence of congenital anomalies is increasing in the present era. The incidence is estimatedto be 3-7% of the congenital disorders.Aim: The present study is focused on the spina bifida and to know the incidence of spinal defects in north Indianpopulation. This study will be helpful for providing baseline data from the north Indian population.Methodology: The present study was done on 1400 fetuses which were sent by gynecology and obstetricsdepartment of GMCH Sec. 32, Chandigarh to anatomy department for autopsy purpose during period of 2008 to2017. In every case, location and morphology of spinal defects were observed.Results: The present study showed 11.7% cases with spinal defects, out of these, 1.2% spina bifida closed(occulta) and 10.5% spina bifida open defects were noted which included 1.2% ventral spinal defects, 31.7%with meningocele, 24.3% myelomeningocele, 28.6% myelocele and 12.8% with rachischisis.Conclusions: It is important to note the detection of congenital anomalies in early stage of gestation. It isadvantageous for the obstetrician in planning the line of management whether to continue the pregnancy or not.

Iniencephaly and Associated Anomalies In A 13 Week Fetus.

Iniencephaly is a rare neural tube defect (1 in 65,000 births in India). It involves defect of occiput and inions combined with rachischisis and retroflexion of head. We present a rare case of inencephaly diagnosed on ante-natal ultrasound in a 13 weeks fetus and associated with cystic hygroma and single umbilical artery. The fetal cervico-thoracic spine was retroflexed, occipital area was soft and brain tissue and spinal cord was visible externally in cervical region. The side of neck showed subcutaneous edema and two vessels (1 umbilical vein and 1 umbilical artery) were present in the umbilical cord. On x-ray examination spinous processes of all vertebrae showed presence of ossification centers except in the cervical region.

Back to the debate: sternalis muscle / Volver al debate: músculo esternal

The sternalis muscle (SM) is an anatomical variant found in the anterior thoracic wall. While the attachment sites of SM are generally agreed upon, the innervation and function of this muscle are not well established. Cadaveric and surgical explorations to date report that SM is innervated by either the pectoral nerves or the anterior branches of the intercostal nerves, or a combination of both. Knowledge of SM is relevant to health care providers specialising in imaging and/or surgery of the anterior thoracic wall. This paper aims to raise awareness in the medical community of the clinical relevance of SM through two case reports and a brief literature review.

El músculo esternal (ME) es una variante anatómica en la pared torácica anterior. Mientras que los sitios de fijación del ME estan acordados, la inervación y la función de este músculo no están bien establecida. Exploraciones cadavéricas y quirúrgicas han informado que el ME está inervado por los nervios pectorales o ramos anteriores de los nervios intercostales, o una combinación de ambos. El conocimiento del SE es relevante para los proveedores de atención de salud especializada de imágenes y/o cirugía de la pared torácica anterior. Este documento tiene como objetivo crear conciencia en la comunidad médica de la relevancia clínica de ME a través de dos reportes de caso y una breve revisión bibliográfica.

Neural Tube Defect Spectrum - Study of Craniorachischisis.

Neural tube defect spectrum (NTD) includes anencephaly, spina bifida, craniorachischisis, inencephaly etc. Four cases of craniorachischisis were studied from a collection of 34 aborted fetuses. There was deficiency of scalp and cranial vault in all the four cases. In one case the defect was extending up to the cervical region, in rest of the three cases, vertebral column defect extended upto thoracic region exposing the spinal cord and spinal nerves. All the cases presented with bulging eyes, broad nose, folded ears, protruded tongue and absent neck. These defects result due to failure of closure of the neural tube during early embryonic life.