What causes duodenal atresia?

What causes duodenal atresia?

Normally, during the fifth and six weeks of fetal development, the duodenum is a solid cord. Programmed death of cells in the center of the solid cord leads to the formation of the normal cavity (lumen) of the duodenum. Failure of that programmed cell death (or “apoptosis”) leads to duodenal atresia. Partial completion of the process results in duodenal stenosis or other types of blockages. A baby can also have duodenal obstruction from twists in the bowel or pressure from something outside the duodenum that pushes in and collapses the duodenum.