Small bowel volvulus is a real surgical emergency. Early diagnosis and prompt operation are essential to prevent gangrene in the small intestine, which is associated with high morbidity and mortality. This is a life-threatening complication of intestinal malrotations, which is defined by abnormal twisting of a loop of small bowel around the axis of its own mesentery during embryologic development [1]. Clinical signs are represented by the high neonatal obstruction syndrome. Imaging has an essential role in diagnosis. Abdominal X-Ray shows marked distension of the intestines concerning for acute obstruction, however it can further lead to missed or delayed diagnoses. The associated abdominal Doppler ultrasound confirm the diagnosis of volvulus by showing “whirlpool sign”. This sign corresponds to a clockwise wrapping of the superior mesenteric vein and the mesentery around the superior mesenteric artery.

Holoprosencephaly (HPE) is a rare birth defect that occurs during the first few weeks of pregnancy. It results from a disturbance in the usual signaling pathways required for separation of the embryonic prosencephalon into 2 separate cerebral hemispheres. Classically four subtypes have been recognized: alobar, semilobar, lobar, and middle interhemispheric holoprosencephaly. The cause of HPE is unknown but may include genetic disorders. In most cases of holoprosencephaly, the malformations are so severe that babies die before birth. In less severe cases, babies are born with normal or near-normal brain development and facial deformities that may affect the eyes, nose, and upper lip. We report 2 cases of semilobar holoprosencephaly, diagnosed in Children’s Hospital of Rabat: the first one was a fetus diagnosed by ultrasonogram at 25 weeks of gestation. The second one was a newborn at 15 days of life diagnosed by brain scan.