Nature and Etiology of the Poland Anomaly

The Poland anomaly consists of congenital unilateral absence of the sternocostal part of the pectoralis major muscle, with ipsilateral syndactyly. Dermatoglyphic evidence confirms the unilaterality of the Poland anomaly. Of 10 patients with this anomaly five were adopted. The mothers of the other five had probably tried to obtain an abortion in early pregnancy, with four of these five living in the same city suburb. Thus, at least in these cases, there is a prevalence of potentially noxious social and physical ante-natal influence.