Signs and symptoms
In the absence of congenital heart defects, individuals with situs inversus are homeostatically normal, and can live standard healthy lives, without any complications related to their medical condition. There is a 5–10% prevalence of congenital heart disease in individuals with situs inversus totalis, most commonly transposition of the great vessels. The incidence of congenital heart disease is 95% in situs inversus with levocardia.Many people with situs inversus totalis are unaware of their unusual anatomy until they seek medical attention for an unrelated condition, such as a rib fracture or a bout of appendicitis. The condition may also be discovered during the administration of certain medicines or during tests such as a barium meal or enema. The reversal of the organs may then lead to some confusion, as many signs and symptoms will be on the atypical side. For example, if an individual with situs inversus develops appendicitis, they will present to the physician with lower left abdominal pain, since that is where their appendix lies. Thus, in the event of a medical problem, the knowledge that the individual has situs inversus can expedite diagnosis. People with this rare condition should inform their doctors before an examination, so the doctor can redirect their search for heart sounds and other signs. Wearing a medical identification tag can help inform health care providers in the event the person is unable to communicate.Situs inversus also complicates organ transplantation operations as donor organs will more likely come from situs solitus (normal) donors.
Cortical desmoid (also called tug lesion or periosteal desmoid) is an irregularity of the distal femoral cortex caused by repetitive stress at the attachment of the adductor magnus aponeurosis. It is most commonly seen in adolescents and is usually asymptomatic. It is a benign and self-limiting lesion. References
Gould CF, Ly JQ, Lattin GE, Beall DP, Sutcliffe JB (2007). "Bone tumor mimics: avoiding misdiagnosis". Curr Probl Diagn Radiol. 36 (3): 124–41. doi:10.1067/j.cpradiol.2007.01.001. PMID 17484955.