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Poland syndrome: from embryological basis to plastic surgery

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Abstract

Poland syndrome is a rare congenital anomaly described by Sir Alfred Poland over 170 years ago. Combination of unilateral aplasia of the sternocostal head of musculus pectoralis major, and an ipsilateral hypoplastic hand with simple syndactyly and short fingers is typical for this condition. It occurs more frequent among males, and is usually situated on the right hemithorax in the unilateral form. The pathogenesis of Poland syndrome is not clear. Most of the authors assume that the etiologic insult is vascular in nature. During the sixth week of gestation, not only the pectoral mass splits (future muscles of the thorax) and intervening tissue between the finger rays of hands starts to disappear but also the vascular differentiation from six aortic arches begins. In our paper we report two cases of children with Poland syndrome, who underwent surgical procedure in the Department of Pediatric Surgery, Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia. Our case reports are focused on pre-operatively and also post-operatively imaging (RTG, CT, and 3D CT imaging) of the affected thorax and arm, as well as the operative reconstruction technique of abnormal ribs. We also discussed the possible embryonic backgrounds of this anomaly as well as the importance of plastic surgery resulting in patients’ normal life.

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There is no financial or other relationship that might be perceived as leading to a conflict of interest (i.e., affecting author’s objectivity).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatric Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Children’s Medical Hospital, Comenius University in Bratislava, Limbova Street 1, 833 40, Bratislava, Slovakia

    Vladimir Cingel & Lenka Zabojnikova

  2. Department of Plastic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital, Comenius University in Bratislava, Ruzinovska Street 6, 826 06, Bratislava, Slovakia

    Martin Bohac

  3. Institute of Histology and Embryology, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Mala Hora Street 4, 036 01, Martin, Slovakia

    Veronika Mestanova

  4. Institute of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Sasinkova Street 4, 811 08, Bratislava, Slovakia

    Ivan Varga

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  1. Vladimir Cingel
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  2. Martin Bohac
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  3. Veronika Mestanova
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  4. Lenka Zabojnikova
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Correspondence to Ivan Varga.

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Cingel, V., Bohac, M., Mestanova, V. et al. Poland syndrome: from embryological basis to plastic surgery. Surg Radiol Anat 35, 639–646 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-013-1083-7

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