If the mermaid legend evokes more of mythology than of pathology, its origin very probably lies in ancient observations of certain types of human monstrosities. Human sirens are not as rare as is sometimes thought; I have been able to examine two cases within the past year, and during that time I have been told of several others. I shall talk today of the usual findings and attempt to draw cert...

Because the Internet forwards packets according to the IP destination address, packet forwarding typically takes place without inspection of the source address and malicious attacks have been launched using spoofed source addresses. In an effort to enhance the Internet with IP source address validation, a prototype implementation of the IP Source Address Validation Architecture (SAVA) was creat...

Background Leiomyomatosis peritonealis disseminate (LPD), is a rare disease in which multiple smooth muscles or smooth muscle-like nodules develop in a subperitoneal location in any part of the abdominal cavity. No reports of multiple congenital malformations associated with LPD have been found in English literature. Case presentation We report such a case of a 27 yr-old patient referred to our...

INTRODUCTION In neurogenic bladder with compromised renal function or when complex reconstruction is not preferred, ileal conduit is considered. Undiversion is performed when the patient prefers the procedure, once the renal function improves, or when complications resulting from diversion are present. CASE DESCRIPTION We present the case of a 10-y-old boy with sacral agenesis, who underwent ...

Neural tube defects (NTD) are a heterogeneous group of malformations resulting from failure of normal neural tube closure before the fourth and fifth week of embryologic development. The three most common forms of NTD are: anencephaly, encephalocele and spinal dysraphism. Less common forms of neural tube defects include iniencephaly, amniotic bands and other types of spinal abnormalities inclu...

Caudal regression syndrome (CRS) is a rare congenital disorder in which lumbosacral anomalies are combined with anorectal and urogenital malformations. However, the molecular mechanisms of human CRS are not yet known. Trauma, nutritional problems, toxic agents, and genetics are suggested in the etiology of CRS. To the best of our knowledge, linkage studies of families affected exclusively by CR...

C audal regression syndrome (CRS) is a rare embryopathy characterized by maldevelopment of the vertebrae, visceral organs, and lower extremities. Patients with CRS have deformities of the sacrococcygeal vertebrae and develop neurogenic bladder from dysfunction of the sacral nerve root. Additional anomalies include congenital heart defects, intestinal malrotation, agenesis of the genitourinary s...

We are presenting two cases of Sirenomelia (Mermaid Syndrome), which is an extreme example of the caudal regression syndrome. It invariably presents with lower limb fusion, sacral and pelvic bony anomalies, absent external genitalia, imperforate anus, and renal agenesis or dysgenesis. There are approximately 300 cases reported in the literature, 15% of which are associated with twinning, most o...

Amniotic band syndrome is a rare congenital disorder caused by entrapment of fetal parts by fibrous amniotic bands in utero. The congenital anomalies seen in this syndrome vary widely and defects may be isolated or multiple and do not follow a specific pattern. Asymmetric distribution of defects is the hallmark of this syndrome. The diagnosis is difficult to make on ultrasound and relies on ide...