Posterolateral (Bochdalek's) diaphragmatic hernia in sisters
L. D. Pollack and J. G. Hall
Two siblings with identical left posterolateral diaphragmatic (Bochdalek's)
hernias are described. To our knowledge, there is one earlier description
of siblings in which the diaphragmatic defects have been defined as
posterolateral. The observation of these two families with a defect that is
usually sporadic raises the possibility of etiologic heterogeneity among
posterolateral defects of the diaphragm. Although overall recurrence risk
is probably small, prenatal diagnosis by ultrasound should be possible and
may improve perinatal management in familial cases.
