Sirenomelia: report of two cases

ABSTRACT

Sirenomelia is a serious congenital deformity in which the legs are fused together, giving the appearance of a mermaid [of the Greek Mythology], Its prevalence has been estimated at about 1, 5 to 2 in 100 000 births. We report two cases of foetuses with Sirenomelia. The first case is that of a premature baby weighing 1050g. The second case is a premature baby resulting from a triple pregnancy and weighing 1450g. They presented a fused lower limb and absent kidneys, anus and external genitalia. They died rapidly. These two cases will allow us to debate the clinical signs, the aetiology and the prognosis of such congenital malformation as well as the difficulties of prenatal diagnosis