Lipomatous Lumbar Mass with an Attached Digit and Associated Split Cord Malformation

Background:A male infant was born with a digit attached to a skin-covered lumbar lipomatous mass and an underlying split cord malformation.Methods:Surgical removal of the mass was performed at four months-of-age. By this time the digit had grown a nail and imaging and histology showed ongoing development of articulated phalanges.Results:The lipomatous mass contained a long bone, a clavicle-and scapula-like structure and a variety of other mature germ layer derivatives. These features raised a number of diagnostic considerations, including: mature teratoma, hamartoma, rudimentary parasitic twin, lipomyelomeningocele and dorsal accessory limb.Conclusions:Based on review of the literature, the authors hypothesize that there is a pathogenetically related spectrum of skin-covered dorsal mass lesions, often associated with spinal dysraphism. These consist of a major lipomatous component and a variety of mature germ layer derivatives that can vary widely in their degree of anatomical organization from case to case.

Lipomatous Lumbar Mass with an Attached Digit and Associated Split Cord Malformation Journal Articles