Body-stalk anomaly. A case report and review of the literature

Abstract

Body-stalk anomaly is a severe and lethal anomaly, characterized by an anatomic defect in the ventral abdominal wall and exit of the viscera of the abdominal cavity, associating spine and limb deformities and absence or shortening of the umbilical cord. The prenatal diagnosis is suggested by ultrasound means and should be confirmed by histopathology evaluation. We present a case of a body-stalk anomaly incidentally diagnosed at 23 weeks of gestation, during routine ultrasound evaluation. Due to its fatal prognosis it is imperative to differentiate it from other abdominal wall defects.