A RARE CASE OF HETEROTAXIA: FETAL AUTOPSY FINDINGS

Abstract

Visceral organs are asymmetrically distributed in thoracic and abdominal cavities but there is definite left right orientation along the midline. At times there may be disturbance of the same resulting from malrotation and/or movement during embryological development. We are presenting autopsy findings of a 20 weeks old male fetus wherein the stomach along with spleen and pancreas are on the right side. Rest of the thoracoabdominal viscera are in the anatomically correct locations. Such cases qualify for heterotaxia, denoting status somewhere between situs solitus which is the normal placement of organs and situs inversus which denotes mirror image of solitus. Heterotaxia can have a range of features. Such cases usually come to light within first year of birth but some cases remain asymptomatic till adulthood and are diagnosed incidentally. This article discusses the nomenclature with diagnostic criteria and points out the lacunae which make the present case difficult to classify.