| Ectopia cordis | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Ectopic heart |
| Specialty | Cardiology Cardiothoracic surgery Medical genetics |
Ectopia cordis (from Greek 'away, out of place' and Latin 'heart') or ectopic heart is a congenital malformation in which the heart is abnormally located either partially or totally outside of the thorax. The ectopic heart can be found along a spectrum of anatomical locations, including the neck, chest, or abdomen. In most cases, the heart protrudes outside the chest through a split sternum.[1]