title: Ectopia cordis: a rare congenital anomaly.
abstract: Ectopia cordis (EC) is a rare congenital anomaly associated with the heart positioned outside of the thoracic cavity either partially or completely. The ectopic heart can be found along a spectrum of anatomical locations, including the cervical, thoracic and abdominal regions and in most cases, it protrudes outside the chest through a split sternum. Although the first case of EC was identified during the early 1600s only 91 cases have been reported since then in the literature. This review will discuss the history and prevalence of EC, its etiology, morphology, presentation and symptoms, complications, diagnosis, treatment and management and prognosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomical Sciences, St. George's University, School of Medicine, Grenada, West Indies; Department of Internal Medicine, Harlem Hospital, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Abigail
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gabriel
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Donnelly
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kuc
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Good
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Doros
authors.forename: Petru
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Matusz
authors.forename: Marios
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Loukas
mesh_terms: D054083:Ectopia Cordis / Q000196:embryology* / Q000266:history / Q000601:surgery; D049670:History, 17th Century; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D035583:Rare Diseases
keywords: abdominal; cervical; congenital cardiac anomaly; ectopia cordis; thoracoabdominal