Pentalogy of Cantrell in China
Seven-year-old Chen Jiakun of China was born with Pentalogy of Cantrell - “a very rare disorder characterized by a combination of severe defects of the middle of the chest including the sternum, diaphragm, heart, and abdominal wall.” As you can see from his picture (click for larger image), there is a skin-covered opening where his heart is.
In front of Chen’s chest is a large mass containing his heart and intestines. People can see and feel how his heart is beating under the skin. The mass swells and throbs if he moves quickly. And coughing will cause it to grow to 15 centimetres long–almost three times its usual size.
Surgeons will be repairing his defective sternum in a five hour surgery. Get well soon, little boy Chen!
Update: Chen’s surgery went smoothly.
China Daily, June 21, 2006
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