[A case of neonatal gastrointestinal duplication]

Gastrointestinal duplications are defined as tubular or cystic malformations of a segment of the digestive tract, from the oral cavity to the anus. They are rare. Prenatal diagnosis ca be made in patients with a voluminous cyst. We here report the case of a 33-year-old primiparous woman with no previous medical-surgical history who was poorly screened. She just underwent ultrasound scan at 8 weeks of amenorrhea (WA). During the third trimester of pregnancy ultrasound showed anechoic nonvascularized cyst measuring 3cm located in the upper pelvis. It was anteriorly located; the kidneys and the bladder were not involved. Then magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the fetus was performed to better interpret ultrasound results. This showed well-defined cyst in contact with the small bowel loops along the mesenteric side. The diagnosis of gastrointestinal duplication was strongly suspected. C-section was done at 39 weeks' gestation because the woman had a history of primary infertility (7 years). Delivery proceeded without complications. Postnatal ultrasound results reinforced the hypothesis of gastrointestinal duplication, showing a cystic mass with a multi-bulkhead-like structure at the level of the left hypochondrium, measuring 45 mm x 19 mm, which could be consistent with gastrointestinal duplication. The new-born was referred to the Paediatric Surgery for better management and surgery in the first 6 months of life. The discovery of fetal anechoic cyst poses a challenge in etiology and diagnosis on the one hand and of follow-up and postnatal management on the other hand.