title: Diastematomyelia: a congenital anomaly not to be confused with a giant hairy nevus.
abstract: The role of the plastic surgeon in the diagnosis and management of congenital anomalies is often a complicated one that involves the integration of input from numerous specialists into the evaluation process. Diastematomyelia is a serious neurosurgical problem that often presents with cutaneous findings in a neurologically asymptomatic patient. Early recognition of these cutaneous manifestations by the plastic surgeon, evaluation with an MRI scan, and consultation with a pediatric neurosurgeon can prevent delayed diagnosis of this surgically correctable anomaly and irreversible neurologic sequelae.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Maricopa County Medical Center/Mayo Clinic Scottsdale, Phoenix, Ariz., USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Weinzweig
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Holman
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Rekate
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008161:Lumbosacral Region; D009508:Nevus, Pigmented / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016136:Spina Bifida Occulta / Q000175:diagnosis*