Multimodality Imaging of Poland Syndrome With Dextrocardia and Limb Anomalies

Consultations for Poland Syndrome: The Essentials for a Thoracic Surgeon

Poland syndrome (PS) is a rare congenital musculoskeletal entity occurring in approximately 1 in 30,000 newborns that manifests with variable symbrachydactyly, ipsilateral costochondral deformities, an absence of pectoral muscles, and breast underdevelopment. These have potential impacts on social, somatic, and psychological functionality, often leading affected individuals to seek expert opinions on corrective surgery. Due to phenotypic variability, strict management guidelines are lacking, with treatment decisions often based on the specialist's personal experience rather than published evidence. Comprehensive imaging with CT and MRI with 3D reconstruction is crucial for providing a descriptive assessment of musculoskeletal defects. Management is multidisciplinary, involving thoracic, plastic, and pediatric surgeons and hand surgery specialists, as well as psychologists and developmental growth specialists. Surgery should achieve both structural and cosmetic correction to reverse the psychological and social impact and achieve patient satisfaction. We aim to provide thoracic surgeons the essential answers for sharing with affected adult individuals during consultations focusing on chest surgical correction.

Clinical and Radiological Features in Poland Syndrome: Report of 3 Cases and Review of Literature

Poland syndrome is indeed a rare congenital malformation that can present with various degrees of thoracic and homolateral upper limb anomalies. The classic features of Poland syndrome include agenesis or hypoplasia of the sternocostal head of the pectoralis major muscle, hypoplasia of the nipple, absence of subcutaneous fat, multiple rib abnormalities, and sometimes Sprengel deformity (elevation of the scapula). Additionally, ipsilateral symbrachydactyly (combination of "short fingers" with cutaneous syndactyly [fused fingers]) may also be observed. However, it's important to note that not all of these findings are always present in every patient, and the combination of features can vary greatly. Surgical treatment for Poland syndrome primarily focuses on improving pulmonary functions resulting from severe thoracic deformities. However, it is frequently performed with the additional goal of enhancing cosmetic appearance. In recent times, the use of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells and fat transfer has shown promising results for correcting chest defects and breast augmentation. In our study, we present a series of 3 cases that were referred to our institution due to thoracic deformities associated with Poland syndrome.

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.

[Poland syndrome: about a case and review of the literature]

Le syndrome de Poland est une malformation congénitale rare associant à des degrés divers des anomalies thoraciques et du membre supérieur homolatéral. Nous rapportons le cas d'une fillette de 7 ans, explorée pour dépression de l'hémithorax gauche avec masse sous claviculaire homolatérale. La tomodensitométrie a montré que la déformation de la paroi thoracique était liée à l'absence des chefs à insertion sterno-costale du muscle pectoralis major gauche avec agénésie du pectoralis minor et hypoplasie des arcs antérieurs des six premières côtes correspondantes. Ces anomalies étaient rapportées à un syndrome de Poland. Un bilan général fait d'échographie abdominale, radiographies des deux mains, a été réalisé chez la patiente n'ayant révélé aucune malformation associée. Le syndrome de Poland résulte d'un défaut d'approvisionnement sanguin des éléments musculosquelettiques de la paroi thoracique pendant la vie fœtale. Il existe de nombreuses variantes du syndrome de Poland qui peuvent être mieux détectées par la TDM qui doit être réalisée chaque fois qu'il est disponible, sans omettre le rôle de la radiologie général dans la détection des malformations associées. La caractéristique de ce syndrome est l'agénésie des faisceaux sternocostaux du muscle pectoralis major. Son étiologie reste inconnue et discutée. Une anomalie vasculaire en serait la cause, sans que le primum movens de cette anomalie vasculaire soit connu.