THORACIC, THORACO-ABDOMINAL, AND ABDOMINAL DUPLICATION

Thoracoabdominal duplication accompanied by intestinal malrotation: a case report and literature review of a rare congenital anomaly in an infant

Introduction and importance

Thoracoabdominal duplication and intestinal malrotation are extremely rare congenital alimentary tract anomalies that can manifest in any segment of the gastrointestinal tract. Still, tubular duplications are an even rarer subset of alimentary tract duplications. Misdiagnosis could occur and this will yield devastating ramifications. Therefore, consideration in the clinical settings is warranted to aid in conducting timely therapeutic interventions.

Case presentation

In this article, we illustrate the overwhelmingly rare occurrence of thoracoabdominal duplication coexistent with intestinal malrotation in a 7-month-old male whose primary complaint was chronic dyspnoea since birth that progressed to involve cough and fever. Imaging analysis revealed a significant intrathoracic fluid-filled cyst.

Clinical discussion

The intestinal malrotation was treated through Ladd's procedure, and surgical excision of the duplicated segments was accomplished. The subsequent analysis of the resected specimens via means of histopathology utilizing Hematoxylin and Eosin dyes established the definitive diagnosis of a foregut duplication cyst.

Conclusion

Thoracoabdominal duplication is one of the most crucial topics in the field of Paediatric Surgery. It is exceptionally rare in occurrence, and the scarcity of available resources that document and describe this topic is evident in the published literature. The authors must opt to document, study, and broaden awareness regarding this life-threatening pathology so that they can circumvent the resultant complications by means of early detection and the performance of apt surgical interventions. Upon careful review of the available literature, we can state that ours is the first-ever case documented from their country regarding this topic and this co-incidence.

Thoraco-abdominal enteric duplication cyst in association with neurenteric cyst, axial skeletal anomalies, and malrotation

We report a case of a 2-year old boy with cervicothoracic deformity with vertebral rib anomalies, neurenteric cyst, separate thoracoabominal enteric duplication cyst, concurrent intestinal malrotation, and dextroposition of the heart. This combination of abnormalities is very rare. When these lesions are suspected, the patient must be investigated carefully. This case is presented to show the importance of cross-sectional imaging (MR and CT) for surgical planning.

Neurenteric cysts--a spectrum

This review encompasses seven patients with clinically important cystic lesions of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, exhibiting a wide range of vertebral anomalies and connections to the neural canal. Three patients had mediastinal masses connected to lower cervical and upper thoracic anomalous vertebrae with intraspinal extensions. In addition, one of these patients had a separate, juxtapancreatic intestinal duplication cyst. One infant with colonic duplication had a lumbar vertebral anomaly and an epithelial-lined tract between the two. Another patient had a presacral cystic mass which was the site of recurrent infections and meningitis until a connection with the rectum was divided. A newborn baby had a completely split notochord syndrome with a large dorsal enteric fistula. Finally, one patient had a dorsal enteric cyst with a direct intraspinal connection. Four of the seven patients had associated significant congenital anomalies, two of whom died early in the neonatal period. The rest of the patients did well. This broad range of enteric lesions with associated vertebral and intraspinal abnormalities suggests that the clinical spectrum of neurenteric cystic lesions is much wider than is generally appreciated.

Dorsal enteric cysts--a study of eight cases

Dorsal enteric cysts have been recognized in association with a wide variety of developmental anomalies of the back, the spine, the central nervous system, the mediastinum and the gut. These lesions can be lethal and they caused the deaths of three of the eight patients in this study: two from meningitis and one from erosion into the aorta. Two of these deaths might have been prevented if they had been fully investigated earlier and the life-threatening components of these complex lesions removed. In the most recent case, however, the lesion was detected antenatally, expediting postnatal investigation and surgery. Three of the five survivors have neurological sequelae attributable to their intraspinal pathology.

Enteric thoracoabdominal duplications in children

The clinical and pathological findings of two children with thoracoabdominal enteric duplications are described in detail. In addition, 23 case reports are reviewed. The majority of duplications communicated with the gastrointestinal tract below the diaphragm, but in one case, reported here, the duplication communicated with the cervical esophagus. In infants these duplications most often present with respiratory symptoms, whereas older children more typically have pain and melena. If possible the entire duplication should be removed during one operation.