Heterotaxy

What it means

An abnormality in which the internal thoraco-abdominal organs demonstrate abnormal arrangement across the left-right axis of the body.

In the normal body, the internal organs are arranged in different patterns on the right and left sides, and are not mirror images of each other. Hence, if asymmetry of the thoracic and abdominal organs is the usual or normal situation, the syndrome of visceral heterotaxy includes patients with an unusual degree of symmetry of some of the thoracic and abdominal organs, and the atrial appendages within the heart.

Rare diseases that can present with this4

The range is how often this sign appears among people diagnosed with each disease — it is not a probability of having any of them. Many of these signs also occur in common, non-rare conditions. A sign on this page is a conversation to have with a clinician, not a conclusion.

Part of the broader category

Also called: Heterotaxia