A 12-year-old girl is brought with sho stature, sho webbed neck and widely spaced nipples which is suggestive of a chromosomal abnormality, and is subsequently confirmed by karyotyping. What is the cardiovascular anomaly that is most likely to be present in this child?: (A) Atrial septal defect, (B) Tetralogy of Fallot, (C) Coarctation of aoa, (D) Patent ductus aeriosus
Answer is C. This child has the typical clinical presentation of Turner's syndrome: sho stature, sho webbed neck and broad chest with widely spaced nipples. Other features include a low posterior hairline, gonadal dysgenesis, infeility and primary amenorrhea, which may occur as the child grows. The associated cardiac anomaly in such patients is coarctation of the aoa (COA) and a bicuspid aoic valve. Physical findings of COA include upper extremity hypeension and a delay in the radio-femoral pulse. Congestive hea failure may be seen in infants with severe cases. The diagnosis is made with an echocardiogram and the treatment is surgery.