Partial caudal duplication in a newborn associated with meningomyelocele and complex heart anomaly

Abstract

Background: Caudal duplication is a spectrum of rare congenital anomalies with a possible heterogeneous pathogenesis including incomplete separation of monovular twins.

Methods: We report an autopsy case of a full-term infant with incomplete caudal duplication syndrome associated with multiple anomalies.

Results: These anomalies included a duplicated penis; double urinary bladder with an attenuated tunica muscularis; duplication of lower bowel with two ilia, appendices and colons; colonic hypogangliosis and left imperforated anus associated with rectourethral fistula. Other anomalies consisted of sacral meningomyelocele, sacral duplication with hypoplastic left sacrum and pelvic bones, muscle atrophy and hypoplasia of the left lower extremity, abnormal lobation of liver with stomach entrapment, omphalocele, and right atrial isomerism syndrome. The complex pattern of anomalies suggests the possibility that partial caudal duplication might be part of the spectrum of conjoined twinning.