title: Early sonographic detection of a 'human tail': a case report.
abstract: We report on a newborn in whom an echogenic protrusion arising in the caudal region was detected at 12 weeks' gestation. Subsequent ultrasound examinations at weeks 15 and 22 failed to demonstrate this finding. After birth, the infant was found to have a pilonidal sinus. The pilonidal sinus may represent a remnant of the embryonic appendage ('human tail') that usually disappears by the end of the 8th week of gestation. This case might support the theory of congenital pilonidal sinus origin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Rabin Medical Center, Petah Tiqva, Israel.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Efrat
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Perri
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Meizner
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ben-Rafael
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dekel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004628:Embryonic Structures / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010864:Pilonidal Sinus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000196:embryology; D011247:Pregnancy; D012445:Sacrococcygeal Region / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal