Umbilical cord ulceration after prenatal diagnosis of duodenal atresia with interstitial deletion of chromosome 13q: a case report

Umbilical cord ulceration complicated by massive local hemorrhage may be a lethal event in the fetus, and this ulceration has been reported to be associated with upper intestinal atresia. The diagnosis of umbilical cord bleeding is difficult. We present a case of umbilical cord ulceration, hemorrhage, and duodenal atresia which had, in addition, an interstitial deletion of chromosome 13q. A female infant weighing 1,691 g was delivered by cesarean section at 34 weeks of gestation and had resuscitation and laparotomy. Just before the cesarean section, ultrasonography showed a 'double bubble' sign and a linear shadow, suggesting fibrin in the amniotic cavity. This finding may help in the diagnosis of bleeding from the cord.