Abstract
Conjoined twins are a rare phenomenon, occurring in 1% of monochorionic twin gestation, with an incidence of 1 : 50 000 to 1 : 100 000. Many conjoined twins have abnormalities incompatible with life, so early prenatal diagnosis is very important for optimal management of both pregnancy and delivery. We report a case of dicephalus parapagus conjoined twins, sharing a single heart, diagnosed at 12 weeks' gestation. With early ultrasound diagnosis, we were able to provide appropriate and timely prenatal counseling to the family.
Highlights
Conjoined twins are always monochorionic, with either fused or partially fused anatomy [1]
The incidence varies from 1 : 50 000 to 1 : 100 000, with the condition occurring in 1% of monochorionic twins [2,3,4]
The prognosis is not good, with 60% of conjoinedtwin gestation resulting in miscarriage or stillbirth [2]
Summary
Conjoined twins are always monochorionic, with either fused or partially fused anatomy [1]. The incidence varies from 1 : 50 000 to 1 : 100 000, with the condition occurring in 1% of monochorionic twins [2,3,4]. The fission theory proposes that conjoined twins represent a fertilized ovum that divides incompletely [5]. Per the theory of secondary fusion, the condition results from 2 originally distinct monovular embryos [6, 7]. Many conjoined twins have abnormalities incompatible with life [2, 8], and the condition is associated with various maternal complications [2]. We present a patient in whom the early prenatal diagnosis of conjoined twins allowed us to provide appropriate, timely antenatal counseling
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