Extroversion of cerebral hemispheres in a full term human foetus

Area of Science:

• Developmental Biology
• Teratology
• Human Embryology

Background:

• Cerebral extroversion is a rare congenital anomaly.
• Single umbilical artery is associated with various fetal malformations.
• Posterior intestinal fistula can indicate neurenteric canal abnormalities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a unique case of cerebral extroversion and posterior intestinal fistula in a human fetus.
• To investigate the potential link between single umbilical artery and these malformations.
• To discuss the embryological basis of the observed defects.

Main Methods:

• Macroscopic examination of a full-term male fetus.
• Detailed description of external and internal malformations.
• Histological examination (implied).

Main Results:

• The fetus exhibited cerebral extroversion, a disorganized appearance of everted cerebral hemispheres, and a posterior intestinal fistula.
• Lateral ventricles, thalami, and choroid plexus were identifiable despite the cerebral malformation.
• The posterior intestinal fistula was suggested to be a persistent accessory neurenteric canal.

Conclusions:

• This case represents the first documented instance of cerebral extroversion in a full-term human fetus.
• The observed neural and neurenteric defects may stem from abnormal arterial patterns linked to the single umbilical artery.
• The findings contribute to understanding complex congenital malformations and their embryological origins.