Poland syndrome: description of an atypical variant

Omphalocele and Associated Anomalies: Exploring Pulmonary Development and Genetic Correlations-A Literature Review

Omphalocele is a rare congenital abdominal wall defect, occurring in approximately 3.38 per 10,000 pregnancies. It is characterized by the herniation of abdominal organs through the base of the umbilical cord, enclosed by a peritoneal sac. While omphalocele can occur as an isolated anomaly, it is more commonly associated with congenital syndromes and structural abnormalities. Among its most significant complications, pulmonary hypoplasia (PH) and pulmonary hypertension (PPH) have been shown to negatively impact neonatal prognosis. These conditions result from impaired pulmonary vascular development, leading to respiratory distress and hypoxemia. Unlike many congenital disorders, there is no universally accepted surgical approach for omphalocele repair. The choice of surgical strategy depends on multiple factors, including the size of the abdominal wall defect, presence of herniated solid organs, associated anomalies, and severity of pulmonary complications. Notably, giant omphaloceles are frequently linked to lung hypoplasia, as reduced intra-abdominal space restricts fetal lung expansion, leading to structural lung abnormalities and increased pulmonary vascular resistance. These factors contribute to a higher risk of respiratory morbidity and mortality in affected neonates. This literature review examines the prevalence, significance, and clinical implications of the association between omphalocele and pulmonary abnormalities. Through a systematic analysis of published studies, we evaluated 157 full-text articles along with available titles and abstracts. Our findings indicate that infants with omphalocele often exhibit respiratory complications detectable prenatally and at birth. Severe respiratory insufficiency, particularly due to pulmonary hypoplasia and pulmonary hypertension, significantly increases neonatal morbidity and mortality. While surgical correction may initially exacerbate respiratory challenges, most patients demonstrate short-term recovery with appropriate multidisciplinary management. This review highlights the importance of early diagnosis, comprehensive prenatal assessment, and tailored postnatal management to improve outcomes in newborns with omphalocele and associated pulmonary complications. Further research is needed to establish standardized treatment protocols and optimize long-term respiratory outcomes in these patients.

Right-sided Poland syndrome with no classical hand deformity: A case report

Poland syndrome (PS) is a rare congenital condition characterized by the developmental anomaly of the chest wall, and classically presents with ipsilateral agenesis/hypoplasia of sternocostal head of pectoralis major which remains as the essential feature of the condition. It may or may not be associated with ipsilateral limb abnormalities. Diagnosis is mainly clinical. Imaging modalities like chest X-Ray, CT chest, US, and 3D-VRT CT can be used to know about the extent of involvement of this anomaly. We hereby present a case of a 25-year-old male who visited our hospital with chief complaint of poor development of right-sided chest wall, who was later diagnosed with right-sided Poland syndrome with no classical hand deformity. Every physician must put a differential diagnosis of PS in the back of mind while dealing with the case of poor development of chest wall.

Left-Sided Poland Syndrome With No Hand Anomalies: A Case Report

A 22-year-old female presented to the surgical outpatient department with a complaint of left-breast hypoplasia. Upon physical examination, the left anterior chest wall was depressed, the left pectoral region was flattened, and the nipple was displaced. The absence of the pectoralis major sternocostal head was visible during shoulder abduction. Physical examination of the hands did not show any signs of ipsilateral digital abnormality. Chest X-ray revealed hyper translucent left-sided hemithorax with crowding of ribs and faint left breast soft tissue. A computed tomography scan (CT scan) reported a complete non-visualization of the left-sided pectoralis major, minor, and serratus anterior. Hence, a diagnosis of Poland syndrome involving left hemithorax in a female patient was established. The patient decided to have reconstructive surgery for purely cosmetic reasons.

Diagnostic value of chest computed tomography images in adult Poland syndrome: a report of two cases

Poland syndrome is a rare congenital developmental deformity characterized by unilateral agenesis or hypoplasia of thoracic wall soft tissue. We report two adult cases of Poland syndrome detected by computed tomography (CT) images. CT images of the two cases depicted an asymmetric chest wall with the absence of a breast and agenesis of the pectoralis muscles. A physical examination of case 1 showed a thin right chest wall with depression of the right nipple region. Hand deformities were also observed, including brachydactyly and syndactyly. In case 2, hand deformities were not found in a physical examination. Using multi-planar reconstruction, the size, position, origin, and termination of bilateral pectoral muscles could be compared symmetrically. For patients with Poland syndrome, a timely diagnosis and treatment are important. The use of chest CT in clinical practice could play an important role in the early diagnosis and treatment of Poland syndrome.

A narrative review of Poland's syndrome: theories of its genesis, evolution and its diagnosis and treatment

Poland's syndrome (PS) is a rare musculoskeletal congenital anomaly with a wide spectrum of presentations. It is typically characterized by hypoplasia or aplasia of pectoral muscles, mammary hypoplasia and variably associated ipsilateral limb anomalies. Limb defects can vary in severity, ranging from syndactyly to phocomelia. Most cases are sporadic but familial cases with intrafamilial variability have been reported. Several theories have been proposed regarding the genesis of PS. Vascular disruption theory, "the subclavian artery supply disruption sequence" (SASDS) remains the most accepted pathogenic mechanism. Clinical presentations can vary in severity from syndactyly to phocomelia in the limbs and in the thorax, rib defects to severe chest wall anomalies with impaired lung function. Most patients have subtle presentation at birth and milder forms in childhood. Functional limitations due to PS are usually minimal. Surgical treatment aims to improve pulmonary functions arising from severe thoracic deformities but is more often done to enhance the cosmesis. The use of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells and fat transfer have shown promising results in recent times for correction of chest defects and breast augmentation. Gaining deeper insights into the etiopathogenesis and clinical presentation of PS will improve the clinical recognition and management of this rare condition. In this review article, we aim to outline the details of this syndrome including its etiopathogenesis, evolution, spectrum of clinical manifestations, other systemic associations, diagnostic modalities, and recent advances in treatment.

18F-FDG PET/CT in a Rare Case of Poland Syndrome and Gastric Cancer

ABSTRACT

Poland syndrome is a rare congenital anomaly characterized by unilateral aplasia of the sternoclavicular head of pectoralis major muscle with varying degree of same side upper limb anomalies. A 44-year-old man, with a case of adenocarcinoma of stomach, whose CECT chest revealed complete absence of pectoralis major and minor muscles on the left side, was diagnosed with Poland syndrome without presence of typical ipsilateral limb anomalies. Follow-up PET/CT revealed metabolically active recurrent disease with typical findings of Poland syndrome. It is important to be aware of oncologic association in a patient of Poland syndrome as highlighted in the present case.

An Atypical Case of Poland Syndrome with Bilateral Features and Dextroposition of the Heart: In the work-up of Poland syndrome, different imaging modalities are necessary to depict the full extent of the anomalies

Poland syndrome is defined by the unilateral aplasia or hypoplasia of the sternocostal head of the major pectoral muscle and is associated with variable ipsilateral thoracic and upper limb anomalies. Most frequently, the abnormalities are unilateral and on the right side. We present an atypical case of Poland syndrome in a baby girl with bilateral chest abnormalities, mainly on the left side, and secondary dextroposition of the heart. As required in almost all cases of Poland syndrome, different imaging modalities were used to evaluate the extent of our patient’s anomalies.

Controversies in Poland Syndrome: Alternative Diagnoses in Patients With Congenital Pectoral Muscle Deficiency

PURPOSE

Poland syndrome was first described as a deficiency of the pectoral muscle with ipsilateral symbrachydactyly. Currently, numerous case reports describe variations of Poland syndrome in which pectoral muscle deficiency is often used as the only defining criterion. However, more syndromes can present with pectoral muscle deficiency. The aim of this review is to illustrate the diversity of the phenotypic spectrum of Poland syndrome and to create more awareness for alternative diagnoses in pectoral muscle deficiency.

METHODS

A systematic literature search was performed. Articles containing phenotypical descriptions of Poland syndrome were included. Data extraction included number of patients, sex, familial occurrence, and the definition of Poland syndrome used. In addition, hand deformities, thoracic deformities, and other deformities in each patient were recorded. Alternative syndrome diagnoses were identified in patients with a combination of hand, thorax, and other deformities.

RESULTS

One hundred-and-thirty-six articles were included, describing 627 patients. Ten different definitions of Poland syndrome were utilized. In 58% of the cases, an upper extremity deformity was found and 43% of the cases had an associated deformity. Classic Poland syndrome was seen in 29%. Fifty-seven percent of the patients with a pectoral malformation, a hand malformation, and another deformity had at least 1feature that matched an alternative syndrome.

CONCLUSIONS

Pectoral muscle hypoplasia is not distinctive for Poland syndrome alone but is also present in syndromes with other associated anomalies with a recognized genetic cause. Therefore, in patients with an atypical phenotype, we recommend considering other diagnoses and/or syndromes before diagnosing a patient with Poland syndrome. This can prevent diagnostic and prognostic errors.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Differentiating Poland syndrome from the alternative diagnoses has serious consequences for the patient and their family in terms of inheritance and possible related anomalies.

Prenatal diagnosis of a de novo 9p terminal chromosomal deletion in a fetus with major congenital anomalies

OBJECTIVE

We describe a prenatal ultrasonography diagnosis of omphalocele and symbrachydactyly in a fetus and review the literature on prenatal diagnosis of 9p terminal chromosomal deletions.

CASE REPORT

A 31-year-old woman (gravida 3, para 1) was referred for genetic counseling because a fetal omphalocele had been detected. Prenatal ultrasonography at 17+ weeks of gestational age revealed a singleton female fetus with biometry equivalent to 18 weeks with an omphalocele. In addition, symbrachydactyly was also noted in the right arm; the wrist bones as well as the metacarpals were missing. A chromosomal study was arranged for a congenital anomaly involving omphalocele. We obtained Giemsa-banded chromosomes from fetal tissue cells, and an abnormal male karyotype with a terminal deletion of the short arm of chromosome 9 at band 9p13 was noted. After delivery, the fetus showed omphalocele, symbrachydactyly, trigonocephaly, sex reversal, a long philtrum, low-set ears, telecanthus, and a frontal prominence.

CONCLUSION

Prenatal diagnosis of abnormal ultrasound findings with omphalocele and symbrachydactyly should include the differential diagnosis of a chromosome 9p deletion.

Poland syndrome a rare congenital anomaly

Poland syndrome is a rare congenital anomaly classically consisting of unilateral hypoplasia of the sternocostal head of the pectoralis major muscle and ipsilateral brachysyndactyly. It was first described by Alfred Poland in 1840 and may occur with different gravity. Our patient is an eight-year-old Nigerian girl with left-sided anterior chest wall defect with no detectable structural heart abnormality but presented with repeated episodes of syncopal attacks following minor trauma to the anterior chest wall.

A case of Poland Syndrome associated with dextroposition

Classical Poland Syndrome (PS) is characterized by unilateral, partial or complete absence of the sternocostal head of the major pectoral muscle and brachysyndactyly of fingers on the same side. We report the case of a newborn infant with dextrocardia and PS located on the left side. This association is very rare: to date only 19 cases have been described in scientific literature. In all reported cases, as in the present, the Poland defect involved the left side and was associated to rib defects, whereas most cases of PS are on the right side and few have rib defects. This case supports the view that dextrocardia follows the loss of volume of the left hemithorax caused by Poland sequence and that the combination of PS and dextrocardia is not coincidental.

Poland syndrome associated with an aberrant subclavian artery and vascular abnormalities of the retina in a child exposed to misoprostol during pregnancy

BACKGROUND

Poland syndrome has been attributed to a process of vascular disruption, and exposure to misoprostol at 6-8 weeks of gestation has been shown to produce defects attributed to vascular disruption. Herein we report the first case of a patient with Poland syndrome associated with an aberrant subclavian artery and vascular abnormalities of the retina, whose mother used misoprostol during pregnancy.

CASE

A White boy of 1 year and 7 months of age, whose mother used misoprostol during the second month of pregnancy, presented with bilateral epicanthal folds, aplasia of the sternocostal head of the pectoralis major muscle with a hypoplastic nipple on the right side, and asymmetry between the upper limbs. The results of an angiotomographic study showed the presence of an aberrant right subclavian artery. Ultrasonographic evaluation showed turbulence and a high peak in the diastolic velocity in both carotid arteries, suggesting stenosis. Ophthalmologic assessment disclosed an intense bilateral tortuosity of the retinal blood vessels, with arterialnarrowing and rarefaction of the retinal pigment epithelium.

CONCLUSIONS

This case suggests that the mechanism of vascular disruption of misoprostol could be related to the aberrant subclavian artery and the observed Poland syndrome. His retinal findings are different from those in cases described thus far in the literature, and this pattern of anomaly has never been associated with a gestational exposure to misoprostol. The possibility of a relationship of the aberrant right subclavian artery and the pattern of blood flow verified in the carotid arteries with the eye fundus abnormalities could be causally related or simply coincidental.

Complete Videoendoscopic Harvest And Transposition of Latissimus Dorsi Muscle for The Treatment of Poland Syndrome: A First Report

Poland syndrome is a rare congenital anomaly characterized by unilateral chest wall hypoplasia and ipsilateral hand abnormalities. The indications for chest and breast reconstruction are determined on the basis of functional and aesthetic concerns. The traditional open approach uses a latissimus dorsi muscle flap to attain chest symmetry. Endoscopically assisted latissimus dorsi muscle harvesting has been reported previously, combined with an additional incision for muscle fixation. We present a case series using minimally invasive surgery in Poland syndrome. In our last case, latissimus dorsi muscle harvesting and transposition was performed completely videoendoscopically. We believe we are the first to report this technique in the literature.