Fetus in fetu—diagnostic criteria and differential diagnosis—a case report and literature review

Fetus-in-fetu (FIF) is a rare congenital condition in which a vertebrate fetus is incorporated within its twin. The authors report the case of a newborn boy with prenatal ultrasonographic diagnosis of intraabdominal mass, provoking compression of the left kidney. Plain abdominal radiography, ultraso...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of pediatric surgery 2004-04, Vol.39 (4), p.616-618
Main Authors: Brand, Ariane, Alves, Maria Cecilia, Saraiva, Carla, Loío, Pedro, Goulão, João, Malta, João, Palminha, J.Martins, Martins, Mena
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Abdomen
Adult
Calcinosis - etiology
Cysts - diagnosis
Diagnosis, Differential
Ectodermal Dysplasia - etiology
Female
Fetal Death
Fetus - abnormalities
Fetus - pathology
Fetus-in-fetu
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Male
monozygotic diamniotic twinning
neontal abdominal mass
Pregnancy
Prenatal Diagnosis
Teratoma - diagnosis
Twins, Monozygotic
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Summary:Fetus-in-fetu (FIF) is a rare congenital condition in which a vertebrate fetus is incorporated within its twin. The authors report the case of a newborn boy with prenatal ultrasonographic diagnosis of intraabdominal mass, provoking compression of the left kidney. Plain abdominal radiography, ultrasonography, and computer tomography showed a cystic mass containing multiple calcifications. Pathologic examination showed an irregular fetiforme mass, weighing 8 g, attached to an amniotic sac by a rudimentary umbilical cord with 2 rudimentary limbs, vertebral bodies, encephalus, coroidal plexus, stomach, duodenum, bowel, adrenal glands, upper and lower respiratory tissue, spleen, lymphoid tissue, single cavity heart, and kidney. Molecular analysis using an informative genetic marker, for uniparental isodisomy of chromosomes 14 and 15 showed no genetic difference between the host infant and the fetiform mass. Serum alpha-fetoprotein was ≤ 16.000 UI/mL (reference values for age, 4 to 18.9904 UI/mL) before surgery and 8.364 UI/mL after surgery.
ISSN:0022-3468
1531-5037
DOI:10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2003.12.029