Foetus-in-fetu an Unusual Cause of Abdominal Mass in the Newborn

Abstract

Foetus-in-fetu (FIF) is a rare congenital condition in which a vertebrate foetus is incorporated within its twin. The authors report the case of a newborn girl with prenatal ultrasonographic diagnosis of an intra-abdominal mass. Abdominal ultrasonography and computed tomography of the abdomen showed a heterogeneous cystic mass containing multiple calcifications. The patient had a laparotomy at 18 days of age with excision of a well-encapsulated 6 χ 5 cm retroperitoneal mass, containing many organs. Anatomicopathologic examination showed a relatively well-differentiated FIF attached to an amniotic sac by a rudimentary umbilical cord. Encephalon, coroidal plexus, vertebral bodies, rudimentary limbs, thyroid gland and teeth were identified. The postoperative period was uneventful.

Key Words:

• Foetus-in-fetu
• abdominal mass
• prenatal ultrasonography
• newborn.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

O. Bouyahia

Hôpital d’Enfants de Tunis Bab Saadoun 1007 Jebari, Tunis (Tunisia) Tel.: [phone] E-mail: [email protected]