Pathogenic mechanisms of heterotopic neural tissue associated with anencephaly

Central nervous tissue was found in both the lung and the abdominal surface of the diaphragm in an anencephalic baby with gastroschisis. These findings support the hypothesis that the heterotopic neural tissue in anencephalic babies is due to transamniotic implantation. It thus appears that the pathogenic mechanism of the heterotopic neural tissue in the lung is aspiration.