AUTHOR=Procházka Viktor , Skopelidou Valeria , Delongová Patricie , Hurník Pavel , Špaček Richard , Matura David , Pavlíček Jan , Gřegořová Andrea , Vaculová Jana , Škarda Jozef 

TITLE=When neuroglial tissue wanders: a unique case report of subpleural heterotopia in a triploid foetus and review of the literature

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Medicine

VOLUME=Volume 12 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1598144

DOI=10.3389/fmed.2025.1598144

ISSN=2296-858X

ABSTRACT=Heterotopic occurrence of neuroglial tissue is an exceedingly rare phenomenon with unclear pathogenesis, often presenting as lesions outside the central nervous system (CNS). We report a unique case of heterotopic neuroglial tissue identified in the thoracic cavity of a fetus aborted at 14 weeks due to a suspected Dandy–Walker malformation. The fetus exhibited neuroglial tissue growth subpleurally, alongside a suspected Dandy–Walker malformation and ventricular septal defect. While theories such as vascular embolisation, aspiration, and aberrant migration attempt to explain such occurrences, the exact etiology remains elusive. Our case suggests a potential association between triploidy and neuroglial heterotopia, supporting the aberrant migration and differentiation theory.