Split cord malformation: three unusual cases of composite split cord malformation

Background: All split cord malformations (SCMs) arise from one basic fault, i.e. the formation of an accessory neurenteric canal between yolk sac and amnion through the midline embryonic disc that splits the notochord and neu ral plate. Multiple accessory neurenteric canals may lead to two or more no ncontiguous SCMs, also known as composite SCM. Case histories: We present h ere three cases of composite SCM. First, a 2 1/2-year-old boy had type II S CMs at two different levels with normal cord between them. In case 2, a 16- month-old girl revealed a type I SCM at levels L2-3 and a type II SCM at le vel L5. The third case had a combination of both these types of SCMs at lev els L1-3. Only very few cases of composite SCM have been reported in the li terature. Conclusions: These three cases also support the unified theory pr oposed by Pang et al.