[Prenatal diagnosis of the pentalogy of Cantrell combined with exencephaly and amniotic band syndrome]

Abstract

A case of pentalogy of Cantrell associated with exencephaly and amniotic band syndrome, detected by ultrasound and then confirmed by pathological findings, is reported. Both conditions are very rare, usually occurring as a single anomaly; their association has not been reported in the literature. One should consider in differential diagnosis of pentalogy of Cantrell the omphalocele and the body stalk syndrome, and of exencephaly the osteogenesis imperfecta together with disorders of mineralisation. A viral infection could play a part in the aetiology of this condition.