A newborn from Mumbra is one of the 100-odd known babies worldwide who carried a partially developed twin-an anomaly known as foetus-in-foetu — within themselves
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A newborn from Mumbra has entered the annals of medical history. He is one of the 100-odd known babies worldwide who carried a partially developed twin -- an anomaly known as foetus-in-foetu — within themselves. In this condition, an abnormal monozygotic twin (derived from a single ovum) develops inside the body of its host. The parasitic twin battles the host for resources, and poses a life threat.
To prevent this, the Mumbra baby was operated upon on July 21 – just a day after birth – and the foetus removed. The anomaly was spotted only when the boy's mother arrived at a private hospital in Mumbra for a routine ultrasound test towards the end of her term. The doctors found a calcified mass inside the foetus' stomach.
"A woman goes through two to three ultrasound scans during her pregnancy. This patient had undergone two," said Dr Bhavna Thorat, consulting radiologist at Bilal Hospital in Mumbra.
The foetus seen in ultrasound images
'Never seen before'
During a third scan on July 11, Dr Thorat saw in the foetus' stomach a sack that resembled another foetus. "I had never seen such a thing. I was confused," she admitted.
The scan couldn't provide a clearer image of the mass; just the formation of a few bones was visible. Dr Thorat advised the family to get an ultrasound of the baby performed immediately after birth. The baby was born at Bilal Hospital on July 20, following which a scan was ordered.
The ultrasound shocked the medical staff. The partially formed foetus was consuming most of his nutrition. Battling for resources with the foetus, the baby developed respiratory problems and was shifted to the neonatal intensive care unit. "His stomach also started swelling. The foetus was feeding on his blood supply and nutrition, while also suppressing his organs," said Dr Thorat.
The baby was transferred to Titan Hospital in Thane, where a surgery was performed to remove the foetus. "The hands, the brain and the legs of the foetus had formed. It weighed about 100 gm. The baby is now stable and his health problems have been resolved," said Dr Thorat.
Rare condition
Dr Paras Kothari, senior paediatric surgeon at Sion Hospital, said the foetus-in-foetu anomaly seen at Mumbra was an extremely rare form of deformed conjoined twins. It affects one in 5 lakh live births. The reason for it is still unknown.
According to the Journal of Surgical Technique and Case Report, only 100 such cases have been reported to date.
Dr Mukesh Agarwal, a senior paediatric surgeon at KEM Hospital, said a parasitic foetus is most commonly located in the abdominal cavity, the skull or the tailbone of the foetus. "If the twin inside doesn't have the presence of calcified vertebrae and any other body part, the condition can't be termed foetus-in-foetu."
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