Type II single umbilical artery (persistent vitelline artery) in an otherwise normal fetus |
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| Authors: | Ronni Gamzu Yaron Zalel Jeffrey M Jacobson Leticia Screiber Reuven Achiron |
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| Institution: | 1. Diagnostic Ultrasound Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Hashomer, Israel;2. Pediatric Unit, Department of Diagnostic Imaging, The Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Hashomer, Israel;3. Pathology Department, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Hashomer, Israel |
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| Abstract: | A single umbilical artery resulting from absence of the umbilical arteries and persistence of the vitelline artery that arises directly from the abdominal aorta has been described only in malformed fetuses with sirenomelia or caudal regression. Such an aberrant artery was suggested to be the etiology of sirenomelia caused by a ‘steal’ mechanism of blood flow from the caudal end of the embryo. We present a case in which prenatal ultrasound showed a similar aberrant single artery arising from the abdominal aorta in an otherwise normal fetus with a normal course of pregnancy. This vessel, a continuation of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA), corresponds to a persistent vitelline artery assuming the function of the umbilical arteries. The etiology of such a finding and its possible consequences are discussed. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. |
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| Keywords: | aberrant umbilical artery persistent vitelline artery |
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