Home            Past Issues            About IP            About IAP           Author Information            Subscription            Advertisement              Search  

   
IMAGES

Indian Pediatr 2015;52: 1099

Caudal Duplication Syndrome


Sonu Meena and *Prerna Batra

Department of Pediatrics, University College of Medical Sciences (University of Delhi) and GTB Hospital, Delhi, India. Email: * [email protected] 

     


A neonate born at 36 weeks of gestation through vaginal route with a birth weight of 2.1 kg was noted to have abnormal genitalia. There was bilaterally symmetrical duplication of labia minora, urethral openings, vaginal openings and anal dimples (Fig. 1). Both the anal openings were imperforate. Single pair of labia majora was visible on either side. The child was passing meconium through both the vaginal openings suggestive of bilateral recto-vaginal fistulae. On ultrasonography, kidneys were normal with no duplication of pelvicalyceal system. Child had single urinary bladder, two urethra, single uterine cavity, single cervix with two vagina. Keeping in view the clinical and sonographic findings, we made a diagnosis of caudal duplication syndrome. The neonate later died due to shock and renal failure.

 

Fig. 1 Duplication of labia minora (yellow arrow), urethral openings (blue arrow), vaginal orifices (red arrow) and anal dimples (black arrow).

Caudal duplication syndrome consists of duplication of genitourinary, gastrointestinal system, especially hind gut, vertebral column, spinal cord and lower limb. The theories postulated include abnormal adherence between ectoderm and endoderm; or damage to caudal cell mass and posterior hind gut at day 23 to 25 of pregnancy. No risk factor and sex predominance is described. Treatment with multi-staged corrective surgeries is individualized according to extent of duplication and functionality of organ systems involved.  

 

Copyright © 1999-2015 Indian Pediatrics