Doctors extracted a “twin’s fetus” from inside the girl’s head! In an incredibly rare medical case, doctors in China have successfully removed a malformed twin from the brain of a 1-year-old girl. The girl, who suffered from motor delays and an enlarged head, had a condition known as fetus-in-fetu, in which a partially formed twin develops inside her brother’s body.
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What is a fetus-in-fetus?
This extremely rare anomaly, which occurs in about 1 in 500,000 births, typically causes one fetus to develop in the womb of another twin. But this case is unique because of the location of the “fetus” inside the girl’s brain.
How was your twin’s fetus identified?
The girl’s symptoms, including motor delay and an enlarged head, led to medical examinations. Scans revealed hydrocephalus (fluid buildup in the brain), a compressed brain and a mass containing a spine, leg bones and finger-like structures. This unusual combination of findings led doctors to suspect a fetus within a fetus.
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Surgery and its importance
The deformed twin was successfully surgically removed. Genetic testing confirmed that the mass was indeed the girl’s identical twin, but with genetic abnormalities. This case highlights the importance of considering fetus-in-fetu in unusual presentations, especially when the typical localization (abdomen) is not involved. It also highlights the role of advanced imaging techniques in the diagnosis of such complex conditions.
References: Fetus Removed From Brain of 1-Year-Old Girl. (2023, March 9). Fetus Removed From Brain of 1-Year-Old Girl | MedPage Today. https://www.medpagetoday.com/neurology/generalneurology/103475
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