limb-body wall complex (LBWC) fetal ultrasound  

The limb-body wall complex (LBWC) is a rare variable group of congenital limb and body wall defects (involving mainly the chest and abdomen). They can include:

• abdominoschisis: usually large and left-sided  , and almost always present
• thoracoschisis
  • ectopia cordis
• anomalies of the lower limbs:
  • clubfoot
  • brachydactyly
  • polydactyly
  • syndactyly
  • oligodactyly
  • absent limbs
• scoliosis (often profound)
• exencephaly
• May show a large abdominal wall defect with the fetus being adherent to the placenta. The umbilical cord insertion site is challenging to find or is absent, and there is direct apposition of the membranous sac to the amniochorionic membrane. An accompanying kyphoscoliosis/scoliosis may also be detected on ultrasound. Early first-trimester scanning may also show an increased nuchal translucency .