Sirenomelia associated with discoid adrenal and lumbar meningocoele: An autopsy report

Mermaid syndrome or Sirenomelia is a rare congenital deformity in which the legs are fused and bears resemblance to mermaid's tail. It carries a poor prognosis, due to associated urogenital and gastrointestinal abnormalities. An early antenatal diagnosis using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) can help in termination of pregnancy. Embryologically, it is considered as the extreme form of caudal regression syndrome due to the persistence of vitelline artery. Here, we report a case of Sirenomelia associated with bilateral renal agenesis along with the rare findings of discoid adrenal, lumbar meningocoele and abnormalities of the hand.