About the Author(s)


    Cornelis van der Merwe Email
    Department of Radiology, Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa

    Kelly H. Hoffmann
    Department of Pediatric Surgery, Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa

    Tanyia Pillay
    Department of Radiology, Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa

    Citation


    Van der Merwe C, Hoffmann KH, Pillay T. A presentation of a recent case series on VACTERL associations. S Afr J Rad. 2017;21(1), a1140. https://doi.org/10.4102/sajr.v21i1.1140

    Note: A selection of conference abstracts: RSSA/SASPI Paediatric Imaging Congress, 03–06 November 2016, Spier Estate, Stellenbosch, South Africa. Faculty collaborators: Professor Kassa Darge (Body Imaging, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA), Professor Edward Lee (Thoracic Imaging, Harvard University, USA), Professor Beverley Newman (Cardiac Imaging, Stanford University, California, USA), Professor Kimberly Applegate (Image Gently and Body Imaging, Emory University, Atlanta, USA) and Professor Savvas Andronikou (Thoracic Imaging, University of Bristol, UK) supported by South African Paediatric Radiologists, co-ordinated by Dr Jaishree Naidoo, President of the African Society of Paediatric Imaging and Head of Division of Paediatric Radiology, Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital.

    Conference Abstract

    A presentation of a recent case series on VACTERL associations

    Cornelis van der Merwe, Kelly H. Hoffmann, Tanyia Pillay

    Copyright: © 2017. The Author(s). Licensee: AOSIS.
    This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

    Background: Vertebral defects, anal atresia, cardiac defects, tracheoesophageal fistula, renal anomalies, and limb abnormalities (VACTERL) association is described as the non-random co-occurrence of congenital malformations. The diagnosis of VACTERL association requires 3 component features of the following: vertebral, anorectal, cardiac, tracheoesophageal, renal or limb abnormalities, in the absence for evidence of another condition. The incidence of VACTERL association is reported as between 1 in 10 000 to 1 in 40 000. The aetiology of VACTERL is still unclear, although the genetic spectrum is becoming somewhat better understood.

    Object: This poster is an educational presentation on a case series of VACTERL association patients and the role radiology has in the identification of the associations.

    Method: Images presented represents a case series of VACTERL association patients who presented to the Paediatric Surgery Department at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital in April and May 2016.

    Conclusion: VACTERL association is reported to be an uncommon disorder. This case series highlights various imaging features of VACTERL association and proves the importance of screening for associated abnormalities in any patient presenting with one of the VACTERL associations.