title: Revisiting amniotic band sequence: a wide spectrum of manifestations.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the spectrum of clinical deformities related to amniotic band sequence (ABS), ranging from mild to severe.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective evaluation of 9 cases of ABS managed during a 4-year period (February 2006 to April 2010) in a tertiary hospital.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median gestational age at prenatal diagnosis was 15 weeks (range 11-26). Only 2 patients had clinical prenatal evidence of amnion rupture. In the other 5 cases the diagnosis of ABS was established prenatally based on fetal structural abnormalities. These abnormalities included: (1) upper limb defects: syndactyly, amputation at the level of phalanges or first metacarpal or forearm; (2) inferior extremities defects: tallus equinovarus and flexed knee, and constriction ring; (3) umbilical cord strangulation, and (4) acrania.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ABS is a polymorphous syndrome and recognizing its various manifestations can be of help in prenatal identification.
authors.affiliation: Prenatal Diagnosis Center, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Centro Hospitalar S. João, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barros
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gorgal
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Machado
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ramalho
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Matias
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Montenegro
mesh_terms: D000015:Abnormalities, Multiple / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D000652:Amniotic Band Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal