Definition of ectopia
"Ectopia" is a term extracted from medical language, which expresses the location of an organ or tissue in a wrong location. The etymological analysis of the term further clarifies the concept: the word ectopia comes from the Greek ἔκτοπος (éktopos): the root ek- means "outside", while the ending -topos "place". The literal "misplaced" indicates a "congenital anomaly due to a malformation originating during the development of the" embryo; only rarely does ectopia occur in the adult subject.
Classification
Ectopia can affect many organs and tissues; in this regard, ectopic manifestations have been classified according to the affected site:
- Renal ectopia
- Testicular ectopia
- Ectopia lentis
- Ectopia cordis
- Ventricular ectopia
- Splenic ectopia
- Thyroid ectopia
By “ectopic pregnancy” (to which an entire in-depth article will be dedicated) we mean the pathology in which the implantation of the embryo takes place in extra uterine sites.
Many authors designate, with the term ectopia, also the "wrong localization of some genes: in other words, the expression of a gene in a location that is not its own, therefore different from the physiological one, is indicated as ectopic expression of a gene, which in turn generates ectopic organs or tissues.
Renal ectopia
Renal ectopia can evolve into a "crusade" when the two kidneys merge, generating a single and abnormal bilobed kidney. In these cases we often witness a considerable difficulty in urinating by the affected patient. Fortunately, the most sometimes, the prognosis is good.
Simple renal ectopia affects one birth in every 1,200, while the cross form is rare and affects one in every 7,000.
Testicular ectopia
In the testicular ectopic form, the testicle is placed in an extrascrotal locus, generally near the femur (femoral ectopy), in the small pelvis (pelvic ectopy), in the groin or even at the root of the thigh. [Taken from Manual of general surgery (2 vol.) Of Fegiz / Marrano / Ruberti].
In testicular ectopias there is a real descent of the organ, the mechanism of which still remains an unknown for many scholars.
Ectopia lentis
Ectopia lentis affects the lens of the eye, which is not located in the normal location: the lens, in ectopia lentis, can be only partially displaced, remaining inside the pupil, but it can also be totally dislocated, therefore more predisposed to cataracts.
Ectopia lentis can be a consequence of trauma (acquired pathology) or a hereditary condition (in most cases). In addition, various forms of ectopia lentis are distinguished:
- Ectopia lentis et pupillae: the pupil, remarkably small and not very dilated, and the lens are positioned in opposite locations. It is a rare form that is genetically transmitted.
- Familial ectopia lentis: as the word itself suggests, this ectopia is transmitted from parents to children and the dislocation refers only to the lens.
[taken from Clinical ophthalmology by Di Jack J. Kanski].
Ectopia cordis
Ectopia cordis is an extremely rare genetic disease, which consists of the location of the heart outside the body of the subject: the heart exits the chest to displace itself at the level of the neck or into the abdominal cavity. Unfortunately, the prognosis is often poor; however , the surgery, in some subjects, is able to (literally) give back life to the newborn.
Ectopia cordis occurs at birth, generally in conjunction with other more or less serious pathologies.
Thyroid ectopia
In "thyroid ectopia, a small thyroid speck is localized in an abnormal location (usually in the sublingual area): it is a rather rare congenital disorder that mainly affects the fair sex (prevalence: 4 females / 1 male). Generally, l" thyroid ectopia remains silent for many years and most often remains a benign phenomenon.
However, albeit in sporadic cases, the thyroid gland in the sublingual area remains the only thyroid sketch of the organism: in this regard, the thyroid tissue must not be surgically excised, except for cases in which thyroid ectopy causes pathological disorders. serious. [taken from Ettore Alajmo's Otolaryngology]
Conclusions
Sometimes, the ectopic manifestations remain asymptomatic, since the affected subject does not perceive any disturbance deriving from the wrong anatomical localization. In other cases, however, the ectopy is so severe that surgery is absolutely necessary for the patient's survival. think of ectopia cordis.
Again, testicular ectopia requires surgery in most cases: it is necessary that the testicle be returned to its locus original, in order to prevent not only the compromise of the spermatic activity, but above all the possible malignant tumor evolution.
However, ectopias must be treated surgically when they are associated with other disorders such as infections, chronic inflammation, circulatory diseases and malignant neoplasms.
Insights: endometriosis, ectopic pregnancy
To fix the concepts
I disturb
Ectopia
Description
The term ectopia expresses the localization of an organ or tissue in the wrong place
"Ectopia" comes from the Greek ἔκτοπος (éktopos): the root ek- means "outside", while the ending -topos "place"
Classification of ectopias
- Renal ectopia
- Testicular ectopia
- Ectopia lentis
- Ectopia cordis
- Ventricular ectopia
- Splenic ectopia
- Thyroid ectopia
- ectopic pregnancy
- ectopic expression of a gene
Renal ectopia
Simple renal ectopia: the kidney is displaced in the wrong position, while remaining on the same side.
Cross kidney ectopia: a single abnormal kidney generated by the fusion of both.
Testicular ectopia
The testicle is located near the femur (femoral ectopy), in the small pelvis (pelvic ectopy), in the groin or at the root of the thigh.
Ectopia lentis
Ectopia lentis affects the lens of the eye, which is not located in the normal location:
- Ectopia lentis et pupillae
- Familial ectopia lentis
Ectopia cordis
The heart exits the chest to displace itself at the level of the neck or into the abdominal cavity
Thyroid ectopia
A small draft of the thyroid is localized in an abnormal location: generally, in the sublingual area
In many cases, ectopia is asymptomatic and does not require surgery
In other cases, the ectopia is so severe that the patient's survival is compromised (eg ectopia cordis).
