Bifid tongue: a rare feature associated with infants of diabetic mother syndrome

Abstract

Infants born to diabetic mothers (IDM) are well documented to have a higher rate of congenital malformations. Sacral agenesis/hypogenesis and caudal dysgenesis are classically linked to maternal diabetes, but many other types of anomalies are more frequent. In this case report, we describe a male infant born to a diabetic mother who in addition to other typical congenital abnormalities was born with an impressive bifid tongue. Accompanying congenital anomalies include unilateral microphthalmia, bilateral microtia, cleft palate, micropenis with unilateral cryptorchidism, bilateral radial hypoplasia, unilateral pre-axial polydactyly, and mid-line central nervous system defects including arhinencephaly and pituitary hypoplasia. Review of the literature reveals an additional case of an infant with a bifid tongue born to a diabetic mother [Comess et al., 1969]. In conclusion, bifid tongue without oral hamartoma, a rare congenital anomaly, can be an associated finding in IDM.