19.8 Pathology

• Facial abnormalities
  • Cheiloschisis (cleft lip)
  • Cheilognathoschisis (cleft lip and jaw)
  • Cheilognathopalatoschisis (cleft lip, jaw and palate)
  • Facial cleft
• Pathology of the headgut
  • Cervical fistulas, cysts and sinus
  • Pierre Robin syndrome (PRS)
  • Persisting thyreoglossal duct
  • CATCH 22 syndrome
  • Missing descent of the pharyngeal pouch derivates
• Pathology of the foregut
  • Abnormalities in the esophagus region
  • Pyloric stenosis
  • Duodenal stenosis
• Pathology of the midgut
  • Meckel's diverticulum
  • Omphalocele
  • Malrotation and coecal elevation
  • Atresias
  • Aganglionic megacolon (Hirschsprung's disease)
• Pathology of the hindgut
  • Missing perforation of the anus, anal atresia, fistulas
• Liver abnormalities
  • Atresias of the bile passages
• Pancreas abnormalities
  • Annular pancreas
  • Cystic fibrosis (CF)

Pathology of the foregut

In the lower foregut region fistulas, stenosis and ectopic tissue also form the main class of the abnormalities.

Abnormalities in the esophagus region

Fig. 45
There are many variations of abnormal relationships between the trachea (1) and esophagus (2).

Other, more seldom abnormalities such as stenosis of the esophagus result from a missing recanalization during development. Both with atresias and with stenosis of the esophagus the fetus cannot swallow and thus reabsorb amniotic fluid, a situation leading to a polyhydramnion.

Pyloric stenosis

The pyloric stenosis arises through a hyperplasia of the pyloric sphincter muscle and is a relatively frequent disorder, mainly in male newborns. It leads to sudden and convulsive vomiting and can be rectified by a longitudinal incision of the pyloric sphincter muscle.

Duodenal stenosis

Stenosis as well as atresias can also occur in the small intestine. As in the esophagus they are based on an absent recanalization of the lumen. Such disorders are nevertheless very seldom.