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Heterotaxy syndrome

Case contributed by Lee-Anne Slater
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Prenatal concern was expressed regarding situs inversus because of a right sided stomach.

Patient Data

Age: day 1
Gender: Female
ultrasound

US of the day one old female baby demonstrates a transverse liver. The stomach is seen on the right side. A single region of splenic tissue measuring less than 2cm was demonstrated on the left side. The cardiac apex was located to the left (not shown on these images).

Case Discussion

Findings are consistent with heterotaxy which is the term used to describe the range of conditions in which there is failure of normal lateralization of organs. 

This baby girl is thought to have polysplenia syndrome because although multiple spleens were not seen on our patient's US, given the small size of the identified spleen it is suspected that this baby may have polysplenia with the other spleens not recognized at the time of scanning. This baby girl also had a transverse liver which is seen in this condition. 

The baby has not shown signs of any significant heart defects at this stage, however, given that in polysplenia the associated congenital heart defects are milder and often do not present until later childhood she will be worked up further with an echo to assess for conditions such as endocardial cushion defect and be assessed for conditions such as partial anomalous venous return and coarctation of the aorta which can be seen with polysplenia syndrome. 

She will also be assessed for malrotation as these babies commonly have malrotation and in the absence of severe congenital heart defects are most often the earliest cause of morbidity and mortality if not previously identified.

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