Abstract

VATER association represents vertebral defects, anal atresia, tracheo-esophageal fistula with without esophageal atresia, renal defects and radial limb dysplasia. The probability of the simultaneous occurrence of any three of these defects is so unlikely that it suggests a sporadic non-random association. This non-random association appears to be related to some chromosomal anomalies, the caudal regression syndrome, mesodermal defects in early developmental period or the matemal use of sex hormones during embryogenesis. We report three autopsy cases of the VATER association that showed most of the known major and minor defects as well as an unusual concurrence of other defects, i.e., scoliosis, talipes varus, absent penis, urethral agenesis and stenosis, rectourethral fistula, rib anomaly, single umbilical artery, Meckel's diverticulum, diaphragmatic hemia, absent rectum, short neck, simian crease, low set ear, and hypoplastic lung.

• Keywords: VATER association;Congenital malformation;Fetus;