Abstract
Embryonic remnants are often found as incidental findings on routine microscopy. They are derived from the vitelline (omphalomesenteric) duct (the embryonic structure which connects the midgut lumen within the yolk sac to the developing fetus) and the allantois (the primitive extraembryonic urinary bladder). In most cases they are asymptomatic, but the vitelline duct may be associated with intestinal atresia and Meckel’s diverticulum, whilst pyelonephritis and abscess formation may complicate a persistent urachus (allantoic duct). Both types of remnant may present as cystic lesions of the cord. This chapter describes the embryology of such lesions, outlines the diagnostic features of each and briefly describes associated disorders.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Benirschke K, Driscoll SG. The pathology of the human placenta. Berlin: Springer-Verlag; 1967. p. 56–90.
Moore KL. The developing human. Philadelphia: Saunders; 1982.
Jauniaux E, De Munter C, Vanesse M, Wilkin P, Hustin J. Embryonic remnants of the umbilical cord: morphological and clinical aspects. Hum Pathol. 1989;20:458–62.
Baergen RN. Manual of Benirschke and Kaufmann’s pathology of the human placenta. New York: Springer; 2005. p. 249–52.
Kadian YS, Verma A, Rattan KN, Kajal P. Vitellointestinal duct anomalies in infancy. J Neonatal Surg. 2016;5:30.
Copp HL, Wong I, Krishnan C, Malhotra S, Kennedy WA. Clinical presentation and urachal remnant pathology: implications for treatment. J Urol. 2009;182(4 Suppl):1921–4.
Paner GP, Lopez-Beltran A, Sirohi D, Amin MB. Updates in the pathologic diagnosis and classification of epithelial neoplasms of urachal origin. Adv Anat Pathol. 2016;23:71–83.
Ashley RA, Inman BA, Routh JC, et al. Urachal anomalies: a longitudinal study of urachal remnants in children and adults. J Urol. 2007;178:1615–8.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Evans, M.J. (2019). Embryonic Remnants and Pathology. In: Khong, T., Mooney, E., Nikkels, P., Morgan, T., Gordijn, S. (eds) Pathology of the Placenta. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-97214-5_51
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-97214-5_51
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-97213-8
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-97214-5
eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)