Omphalocele and pericardial effusion: possible sonographic markers for the pentalogy of Cantrell or its variants.

BACKGROUND

The pentalogy of Cantrell consists of defects involving the diaphragm, abdominal wall, pericardium heart, and lower sternum.

CASES: We report three cases of the pentalogy of Cantrell (variant form), involving an omphalocele complicated by an anterior diaphragmatic hernia. In two cases, a pericardial effusion was noted at antenatal scanning; the case without a pericardial effusion had an intact diaphragmatic pericardium at surgical repair.

CONCLUSION

The presence of a pericardial effusion in association with an omphalocele should prompt a detailed search for other features of the pentalogy of Cantrell or its variants.