Complete absence or deficiency of one half of the body

Here we report on an apparently unprecedented case of virtually complete absence of the left half of the body, with resulting severe deformity of the right half. The fetus was stillborn with polyhydramnios at 31 1/2 weeks of gestational age. A second patient may be a mild example of this extraordinary phenomenon with deficiency of organs, predominantly on the left side. The nosology and developmental implications are discussed briefly.