[The VACTERL association and its nosologic limits].

We present six cases of V.A.C.T.E.R.L. association diagnosed by the Study Group of Congenital Malformations in Emilia Romagna (I.M.E.R.) from january 1978 to december 1981. With regard to the etiology, the pregnancy history of these six cases does not support the hypotesis of the progestin-estrogen compounds as possible teratogenic factors of the V.A.C.T.E.R.L. association. Furthermore the familial recurrence hypotesis of this complex needs further detailed studies. At last we attempt to specify the nosological limits of the V.A.C.T.E.R.L. association respect to other similar malformative complexes as the Caudal Regression Syndrome, Rokitansky Syndrome, Holt-Oram Syndrome and Potter Syndrome.