Diastematomyelia associated with ectopic renal tissue.

A case of diastematomyelia associated with ectopic renal tissue is presented. While findings of ectopic renal tissue and Wilms tumor in dysraphic conditions have been reported in the literature, there has been no incorporation of these findings into the theories of the development of neural tube defects. This case supports the hypothesis of neural tube defects secondary to rupture of a previously intact neural tube (secondary neural tube defect). A discussion and review of the literature regarding the hypotheses of primary and secondary neural tube defects is included.