[Poland syndrome: description of two patients in the same family]

Poland syndrome is a congenital condition that consists of the unilateral absence of the large pectoral muscle, ipsilateral sympbrachydactyly, and is occasionally associated with other malformations of the anterior chest wall and breast. The aetiology of Poland's syndrome is unknown, although it is believed to be caused by an interruption or reduction in the embryonic circulation during pregnancy, and the majority of reported cases are sporadic. Only in a few instances there is a familial incidence. We describe the occurrence of Poland's syndrome in two cousins and the malformation is mainly in the large pectoral muscle.