[Malignant keratoma].

INTRODUCTION

Birth of an Harlequin fetus in an African maternity ward is an exceptional event. There is no question as to the diagnosis, but no treatment is available.

CASE REPORT

A female infant was delivered with typical lesions of malignant keratoma. Death occurred 20 hours after birth.

DISCUSSION

In countries with adequate intensive care facilities (hydration, acitretine), such infants may occasionally survive with the risk of developing major lamellar ichthyosis which remains a handicap for the rest of life. In Burkina-Faso, such therapeutic facilities are lacking as are means of antenatal diagnosis. The ethical question as to whether or not to attempt survival measures is quite different under these conditions.