Ectopia cordis Thoracoabdominal ectopia cordis 2012-04-08T01:13:52Z UMLS:C4023283 HP:0011586 In many cases, thoracicoabdominal ectopia cordis is characterized by partial absence or cleft of the sternum, deficiency of the anterior diaphragm, deficiency of the diaphragmatic pericardium, midline abdominal wall defect, and congenital intracardiac abnormalities. These five characteristics comprise the pentalogy of Cantrell. Congenital malformation of the ventral wall with partial or total evisceration of the heart outside the thoracic cavity and displacement partially into the abdominal cavity.