Ectopia cordis is a very rare and impressive congenital abnormality. This case study demonstrates an 8-week, 5-day twin gestation with one embryo affected and the other normal. The abnormal fetus spontaneously expired at 11 weeks, 5 days gestation. The surviving twin remains alive and well at 18 weeks gestation. Because of the ongoing normal pregnancy, pathologic confirmation is unlikely.
Leca F, Thibert N, Khoury W, Fermont L, Laborde F, Dumez Y: Extrathorcic heart (ectopia cordis): report of two cases and review of the literature. Int J Cardiol1989;22:221–228.
8.
Hornberger LK, Colan SD, Lock JE, Wessel DL, Mayer JE: Outcome of patients with ectopia cordis and significant intracardiac defects. Circulation1996;94:32–37.
9.
Kabbani MS, Rasheed K, Mallick M, et al: Thoraco-abdominal ectopia cordis: case report. Ann Saudi Med2002;22.
10.
Dobell ARC, Williams HB, Long RW: Staged repair of ectopia cordis. J Ped Surg1982;17:353–352.
11.
Kim KA, Vincent WR, Muenchow SK, Wells WJ, Downesy SE: Successful repair of ectopia cordis using alloplastic materials. Ann Plast Surg1997;38:518–520.
12.
Amato JJ, Zelen J, Talwakar NG: Single stage repair of thoracic ectopia cordis. Ann Thorac Surg1995;59:518–520.