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More than skin deep Not-so-subtle markers unmask `occult' spinal dysraphism

Chris McAfee's baby girl was born with unusual marks along the midline of the lower back, a lipoma with a dimple and a hemangioma.

Three hospital physicians reassured the McAfees that these marks were nothing to be concerned about, and a spinal ultrasound was reported as negative. Their pediatrician, however, was still worried, and the baby was ultimately referred for an MRI at the nearest children's hospital, in Philadelphia.

When the McAfees returned for the results, they learned a nine-syllable word new to them and probably to the first three physicians who had examined their baby: Hannah had lipomyelomeningocele.

Beth Reeth's daughter Jennafer was born with a small patch of hair over the lower spine and a dimple directly below it. The pediatrician in their small Michigan town assured her that the hair eventually would fall out and the dimple was harmless.

Later on, when she and her husband were dissatisfied with care for the toddler's constipation and urinary tract infections, they sought another opinion. Almost by chance, they showed the hairy patch to the second physician, who recognized its significance.