PRENATAL-DIAGNOSIS OF ECTOPIA CORDIS AT 10 WEEKS OF GESTATION USING 2-DIMENSIONAL AND 3-DIMENSIONAL ULTRASONOGRAPHY

We report here the earliest prenatal diagnosis to date of a case of ec topia cordis using both two-dimensional and three-dimensional ultrasou nd at 10 weeks of gestation. Both two-dimensional and three-dimensiona l ultrasound clearly revealed a thoracoabdominal ectopia cordis and an omphalocele. Histopathological examination confirmed the prenatal ult rasonic findings. In addition to an ectopia cordis, a supraumbilical h epato-omphalocele, absence of a pericardium and an anterior diaphragma tic defect were seen, although there was a normal sternum. These patho logical findings, suggested that our case was a variant of pentalogy o f Cantrell.