Fetal sirenomelia type VI. A case report

Sirenomelia, also known as sympodia, simelia or sirenoid fetus, due to the fusion of the lower limbs, similar to the tail of a fish, has attracted attention since ancient times, giving rise to multiple myths. It is an extremely rare condition in our environment. Grade VII is its most serious form and can be diagnosed during prenatal ultrasound in the first weeks of pregnancy, leading to induced abortion in most cases. It is frequently accompanied by other anomalies. As a malformation, sirenomelia is one of the most lethal and multisystemic. For these reasons, a 42-years-old pregnant patient with 17.5 weeks' gestational age and an ultrasound diagnosis of sirenomelia is presented, referred to the Dr. Gustavo Aldereguía Lima General University Hospital in Cienfuegos, where a clinical autopsy was performed on the product of conception, diagnosing type VI sirenomelia with a single femur and tibia, absence of feet, agenesis of internal and external genitalia, bladder, ureters, urethra and anus and fusion of the sacrum to the iliac bones, a single umbilical artery and rectal atresia. Disproportion between height and arm span, with the latter predominating. The literature review of this pathology aims to describe the etiology, incidence, characteristics and various diagnostic methods in sirenomelia, due to the low frequency with which this entity occurs for its better study and understanding.