Prenatal diagnosis of fetal tail and postabortum anatomical description

Abstract

Fetal ultrasound examination at 13 weeks of gestation demonstrated a homogeneously echogenic protrusion, or tail, 7 mm in length, in the sacral region. At 15 weeks, the ultrasound appearance was consistent with a regression of the tail and by 21 weeks it had completely disappeared. Severe intrauterine growth restriction with reduced uterine blood flow was diagnosed at 21 weeks and intrauterine death occurred at 24 weeks of gestation. Postmortem examination revealed a 4-mm caudal appendage which contained no vertebrae on radiography. The appendage was located under and behind the last sacral vertebra suggesting a true vestigial tail with a delayed process of regression.