Universidad de Carabobo. Valencia. Venezuela
Introduction
The first duplication of the gastrointestinal tract was first described by Calder (4) in 1733, but the term intestinal duplication was first used by Fitz (5) in 1884. The term was not widely used until popularized by Ladd (13) in the 1930s, with further classifications by Gross (8) in the 1950s.
Gastrointestinal duplications constitute a rare group of malformations, which vary in site, size, appearance and fetal signs. Ladd (13) introduced the term "duplication of the intestinal tract" to encompass a group of congenital anomalies that have three characteristics:
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Firstly, they have a well developed coat of smooth muscle;
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Secondly, their epithelial lining represents some part of the alimentary tract and
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Thirdly, they are attached to some part of the alimentary tract.
Duplications are either cystic or tubular in shape. Singh et al (14) present a case of gastric duplication that was successfully managed surgically, and the patient is doing well at 2 years of follow up.
Congenital pyloric atresia was first described by Calder (4) in 1749, is a very rare malformation with an estimated incidence of 1 per million newborns (18).
Synonyms, key words, and related terms
Duplication cyst, enteric cyst, enterocystomas, enterogenous cysts, supernumerary accessory organs, stomach duplex, congenital pyloric atresia.
Incidence
Gastric duplication is extremely rare (8). Although the exact incidence is unknown, Potter (20) reported 2 cases in more than 9000 fetal and neonatal autopsies. Gastric duplications cysts account for less than 5% of all enteric duplications (11, 16, 23). As duplication it is attached to its origin, has a well developed smooth muscle coat and gastric epithelial lining (2). Congenital pyloric atresia is a very rare anomaly that constituted less than 1% of all upper gastrointestinal atresias (1). Although congenital pyloric atresia can occur in isolation, but not uncommonly it is seen in association with either other gastrointestinal artesian or duplications. Probably this is the first report about association of gastric duplication cyst in association with pyloric atresia in the original stomach.
Etiology
Because duplication of the alimentary tract takes many different forms, the application of a single embryologic theory is not likely to be considered valid. This has led to the proposal of several different theories (1, 2, 3, 7, 10, 18, 23, 24) in an attempt to explain the embryologic events that culminate in intestinal duplication. Various theories have been postulated regarding the origin of duplication cysts, like;
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abortive attempts of twinning;
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phylogenetic reversion;
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adhesions between endoderm and neuroectoderm;
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persistence of embryonic diverticula;
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errors in epithelial recanalization (believed to occur between the fifth and eighth week of gestation);
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fusion of longitudinal folds, and
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vascular compromise during early organogenesis.
The exact pathogenesis of congenital pyloric atresia is not now. Three hypotheses (18) were proposed to explain this association:
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errors in epithelial recanalization;
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vascular compromise during early organogenesis, and
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scarring and fibrosis as a result of intrauterine sloughing of the mucous membranes.
The congenital pyloric atresia can occur as an isolated lesion or in association with other genetically determined conditions such as epidermolysis bullosa, aplasia cutis congenital or form part of the hereditary multiple intestinal atresias syndrome. In other hands the congenital pyloric atresia, epidermolysis bullosa and aplasia cutis congenital are three genetically determined conditions and their occurrence together is more likely the result of closely linked abnormal genes (Ahmed).
The congenital pyloric atresia can be classified intro three types (18):
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Pyloric membrane or diaphragm,
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Pyloric atresia without a gap, and
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Pyloric atresia with a gap.
Case report
A 32-year-old woman, at 37 weeks of pregnancy, was referred for ultrasound targeted scan for presenting polyhydramnios and two abdominal cysts. The study showed bilateral cysts in abdominal cavity. The abdominal perimeter was at the 95th percentile. The coronal and axial abdominal reveled the following images: