A CASE OF AGNATHIA, SITUS-INVERSUS, AND A NORMAL CENTRAL-NERVOUS-SYSTEM

We report here a premature female infant with agnathia, low-set but normally formed ears, a downward eye slant, choanal atresia and a cleft palate. She had severe respiratory distress and died despite maximum intervantion at 5 days of age. Autopsy revealed situs inversus totalis; crossed fused renal ectopia; agnathia; normal thyroid, larynx, trachea, and bronchi; incomplete lobation of the lungs; immature pulmonary development with early hyaline membranes; and a normal central nervous system. This lack of significant central nervous system abnormalities distinguishes this infant from the majority of previously reported infants with agnathia and situs inversus.