Abstract
Umbilical vein varix (UVV) is a rare vascular anomaly of the umbilical cord, most commonly identified in the fetal intra-abdominal segment during prenatal ultrasound. Extra-abdominal UVVs are exceedingly uncommon and may be missed on routine obstetric imaging, with diagnosis often made postnatally. We report an isolated extra-abdominal UVV in a term newborn that was not detected antenatally and was recognized immediately after delivery on gross examination of the cord. Postnatal ultrasound with Doppler demonstrated no intra-abdominal extension and no evidence of abdominal wall herniation. Placental pathology confirmed a 3-vessel cord with focal dilation of the umbilical vein consistent with an extra-abdominal UVV. The infant remained clinically stable, required no intervention, and was discharged in good condition. This report adds to the limited literature suggesting that isolated extra-abdominal UVV can follow a benign course, and it highlights the value of careful postnatal cord inspection to prompt targeted evaluation when prenatal imaging is unrevealing.
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