title: Prenatal ultrasound diagnosis of cloacal exstrophy associated with myelocystocele complex by the 'elephant trunk-like' image and review of the literature.
abstract: A case of cloacal exstrophy (CE) was detected by ultrasound as early as 22 weeks of gestation in association with myelocystocele complex, an unusual form of occult spinal dysraphism often associated with such a disease. The ultrasonographic diagnosis was made through the detection of a wavy cord-like segment of soft tissue protruding from the anterior abdominal wall, just below the umbilical cord insertion, strongly resembling the trunk of an elephant. Our article enforces the suggestion that the ultrasound elephant trunk-like image should be added to the existing major criteria for making prenatal diagnosis of CE.
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Genetics, Gaetano Rummo Hospital, Benevento, Italy.
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Della Monica
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nazzaro
authors.forename: Fortunato
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lonardo
authors.forename: Gerardo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ferrara
authors.forename: Arturo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Di Blasi
authors.forename: Gioacchino
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Scarano
mesh_terms: D000015:Abnormalities, Multiple / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000196:embryology / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D001746:Bladder Exstrophy / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000196:embryology / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008591:Meningomyelocele / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000196:embryology / Q000473:pathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal