Prenatally diagnosed fetal thoraco-lumbar spine duplication associated with lipomyelomeningocele: An extremely rare case of split cord malformation

Münip Akalın; Oya Demirci; Ecmel Kaygusuz; Gizem Elif Dizdaroğulları

doi:10.4274/tjod.galenos.2022.85453

Prenatally diagnosed fetal thoraco-lumbar spine duplication associated with lipomyelomeningocele: An extremely rare case of split cord malformation

Turk J Obstet Gynecol. 2022 Dec 13;19(4):333-337. doi: 10.4274/tjod.galenos.2022.85453.

Authors

Münip Akalın¹, Oya Demirci², Ecmel Kaygusuz³, Gizem Elif Dizdaroğulları²

Affiliations

¹ Marmara University Pendik Training and Research Hospital, Clinic of Perinatology, İstanbul, Turkey.
² University of Health Sciences Turkey, Zeynep Kamil Women's and Children's Disease Training and Research Hospital, Clinic of Perinatology, İstanbul, Turkey.
³ University of Health Sciences Turkey, Zeynep Kamil Women's and Children's Disease Training and Research Hospital, Clinic of Pathology, İstanbul, Turkey.

Abstract

Spine duplication is considered rare, a more serious form of split cord malformation. Ultrasonographic evaluation of the spine in the second trimester is central to the antenatal diagnosis of spinal malformations. Here, we report a case of thoraco-lumbar spine duplication associated with lipomyelomeningocele diagnosed by ultrasonography at 19 weeks of gestation. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report of spine duplication diagnosed by antenatal ultrasonography.

Keywords: Congenital spine defect; spinal dysraphism; spine duplication; split cord malformations; split notochord syndrome.