OMPHALOCELE AND PERICARDIAL-EFFUSION - POSSIBLE SONOGRAPHIC MARKERS FOR THE PENTALOGY OF CANTRELL OR ITS VARIANTS

Background: The pentalogy of Cantrell consists of defects involving th e diaphragm, abdominal wall, pericardium, heart, and lower sternum. Ca ses: We report three cases of the pentalogy of Cantrell (variant form) , involving an omphalocele complicated by an anterior diaphragmatic he rnia. In two cases, a pericardial. effusion was noted at antenatal sca nning; the case without a pericardial effusion had an intact diaphragm atic pericardium at surgical repair. Conclusion: The presence of a per icardial effusion in association with an omphalocele should prompt a d etailed search for other features of the pentalogy of Cantrell or its variants.