title: Sirenomelia and situs inversus: case report and review of the literature.
abstract: We report a case of sirenomelia of the symelia dipus type which is associated with complete situs inversus. Sirenomelia is difficult to diagnose prenatally because of a frequently associated oligohydramnios. Symelia dipus type adds to the difficulty of the diagnosis, since the bones of the thighs and legs are fully formed. In fact, a close examination of the cases of sirenomelia previously reported in the literature shows that a prenatal diagnosis was achieved only when the oligohydramnios was no more than moderate and/or the associated malformation was of apus or unipus type. We propose a systematic amnioinfusion when one suspects symelia unipus type. Finally, the pathogenesis of sirenomelia is discussed, as the presence of a complete situs inversus in the case reported here could illuminate the debate concerning the origin of the malformation.
authors.affiliation: Service de Gynécologie-Obstétrique II, Hôpital de Hautepierre, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Langer
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stoll
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nicolau
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gasser
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schlaeder
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004480:Ectromelia / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D012857:Situs Inversus / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*