Prenatal diagnosis and array comparative genomic hybridization characterization of trisomy 21 in a fetus associated with right congenital diaphragmatic hernia and a review of the literature of chromosomal abnormalities associated with congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

OBJECTIVE: Rapid genome-wide aneuploidy diagnosis using uncultured amniocytes and array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) is useful in pregnancy with abnormal ultrasound findings. The purpose of this report is to report a case of right congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) associated with trisomy 21 diagnosed prenatally by aCGH and to review the literature of chromosomal abnormalities associated with CDH.

CASE REPORT: A 29-year-old woman was referred for genetic counseling at 25 weeks of gestation because of fetal CDH. The pregnancy was uneventful until 25 weeks of gestation when level II ultrasound detected isolated right CDH. Ultrasound showed that the liver and gallbladder were located in the right hemithorax, and there was levocardia. Fetal magnetic resonance imaging confirmed the diagnosis of right CDH with the gallbladder and part of the liver appearing in the right hemithorax and the heart shifting to the left hemithorax. Amniocentesis was immediately performed. About 10 mL of amniotic fluid was sent for aCGH analysis by use of the DNA extracted from uncultured amniocytes, and 20 mL of amniotic fluid was sent for conventional cytogenetic analysis. aCGH analysis revealed the result of arr 21p11.2q22.3 (9,962,872-48,129,895) × 3, consistent with the diagnosis of trisomy 21. Conventional cytogenetics revealed a karyotype of 47,XY,+21. Postnatally, polymorphic DNA marker analysis using DNAs extracted from the placenta and parental bloods showed a heterozygous extra chromosome 21 of maternal origin consistent with the result of maternal meiosis I nondisjunction.

CONCLUSION: Prenatal diagnosis of right CDH should raise a suspicion of chromosomal abnormalities especially trisomy 21 and the association of Morgagni hernia.