Abstract
Five infants with cloacal exstrophy underwent neurological evaluation and radiographic examination of the caudal spine shortly after birth. Each was found to have occult spinal dysraphism. Four had terminal myelocystoceles, and one had a lipomyelomeningocele. Pathological anatomy was confirmed during surgery for the release of the tethered spinal cords. The striking association between cloacal exstrophy and occult spinal dysraphism suggests a common developmental defect in the caudal pole of the embryo. A hypothesis is offered to explain this association. Terminal myelocystocele and lipomyelomeningocele appear to be part of a continuum of lesions associated with skin-covered spina bifida.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 834-843 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Neurosurgery |
Volume | 28 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 1 1991 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Cloacal exstrophy
- Lipomyelomeningocele
- Magnetic resonance imaging
- Occult spinal dysraphism
- Spina bifida
- Spinal dysraphism
- Terminal myelocystocele
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Surgery
- Clinical Neurology