A Case of Limb-Body Wall Complex Diagnosed by Prenatal Ultrasonography.

Kee, Hyun Seon; Jang, Jin Beum; Joung, Jin Suk; Bae, Seong Keun; Lee, Ju Young

Case Report

Korean Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology 2003;46(9):1762-1766.
Published online September 1, 2003.

A Case of Limb-Body Wall Complex Diagnosed by Prenatal Ultrasonography.

Hyun Seon Kee, Jin Beum Jang, Jin Suk Joung, Seong Keun Bae, Ju Young Lee

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine Pochon CHA University, Seoul, Korea.

Abstract

Limb-body wall complex, also known as the short umbilical cord syndrome or the body stalk anomaly, is a poorly defined, sporadic group of congenital anomaly characterized by a collection of protean fetal malformation, deformation and disruption. Accurate diagnosis is often difficult because of its variable presentation pattern and the absence of exactly same case. Ultrasonographic detection of abdominoschisis, scoliosis, abnormalities of the lower extremities, a single umbilical artery and a short umbilical cord is important for the prenatal diagnosis. This complex should be distinguished from other body wall defects including omphalocele and gastroschisis since the prognosis for limb-body wall complex is uniformly poor. We experienced a case of limb-body wall complex in a fetus of intrauterine pregnancy at 15 weeks who was terminated because of ultrasonographic demonstration of a large abdominal defect with eventration of abdominal organs, short umbilical cord and kyphoscoliosis. Thus, we report a case with brief review of the literatures.

Key Words: Limb-body wall complex, Prenatal diagnosis