ABSTRACT
The incidence of alimentary tract duplications (ATDs) has been reported to be 1 in 4500 births, with a male preponderance. ATDs can occur anywhere from oropharynx to anus. Oropharyngeal duplications are usually asymptomatic, but may present as feeding difficulties. Oesophageal duplications can be incidentally picked up on a chest radiograph, or present with extrinsic tracheal compression causing respiratory distress or pneumonia. Duodenal duplication can cause partial intestinal obstruction with vomiting or gastrointestinal bleeding or may obstruct the biliopancreatic ducts, causing jaundice or recurrent pancreatitis. Pancreatic duplication is the rarest form of alimentary tract duplication, most commonly presenting with abdominal pain, nausea/vomiting and abdominal mass. Chronic constipation is commonly found in patients with rectal duplications because of the posterior mass effect. In oesophageal duplication, 20% of cases will have spinal communication, and 25% will also have an intestinal duplication. Most oesophageal duplications are cystic, compared with thoracoabdominal cases, which are all tubular.
