Embryonic Disruption Syndromes in Dogs: Exploring the Overlap and Divergence of Cantrell Syndrome, Amniotic Bands, and Body Stalk Anomalies.

This study explores the diagnostic complexity and phenotypic variability of congenital thoracoabdominal anomalies in dogs. It focuses on 20 cases, comprising three original cases and 17 cases reviewed from the literature. Most cases exhibited features that overlapped, challenging traditional classification systems. All three original cases presented with thoracoschisis, which was categorized as a bridging anomaly due to its presence within both body wall and sternal defect domains. Cases 1 and 2, which presented with central abdominoschisis and umbilical cord anomalies, were indicative of early embryonic disruption, which is consistent with syndromic conditions such as Cantrell pentalogy. Case 3, featuring right lateral abdominoschisis and a normal umbilical cord, reflects a more localised defect that is likely to have arisen later in development. These findings support the concept of a syndromic continuum and emphasize the need for diagnostic frameworks that integrate anatomical presentation, embryonic timing and cross-species comparisons. The Venn diagram developed in this study can be used as a tool for categorizing and understanding the development of syndromic and non-syndromic phenotypes.