Impact of prenatal diagnosis of fetus-in-fetu

Article type: Case Report

Authors: Sewell, E.K.^{a; f; *} | Massa-Buck, B.^{a; f} | Rubio, E.I.^{b; g} | Massaro, A.N.^{a; c; f} | Badillo, A.^{d; h} | Puscasiu, E.^{e; i} | Broth, R.^j | Falika-King, T.^k | Nies, B.^k | Penn, A.^{a; c; f}

Affiliations: [a] Division of Neonatology, Children’s National Health Systems, Washington, DC, USA | [b] Division of Radiology, Children’s National Health Systems, Washington, DC, USA | [c] Division of Fetal Medicine, Children’s National Health Systems, Washington, DC, USA | [d] Division of General and Thoracic Surgery Children’s National Health Systems, Washington, DC, USA | [e] Division of Pathology, Children’s National Health Systems, Washington, DC, USA | [f] Depart of Pediatrics, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA | [g] Department of Radiology, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA | [h] Department of Surgery, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA | [i] Department of Pathology, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA | [j] Maternal Fetal Medicine, TLC Perinatal, Silver Spring, MD, USA | [k] Department of Perinatology/Maternal Fetal Medicine, Inova Fairfax Hospital, Fairfax, VA, USA

Correspondence: [*] Address for correspondence: Elizabeth Sewell, MD, MPH Emory University School of Medicine, 2015 Uppergate Drive, Room 318, 3rd Floor, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA. Tel.: +1 404 727 5141; Fax: +1 404 727 3236; E-mail: elizabeth.k.sewell@emory.edu.

Abstract: Fetus in fetu (FIF) is an extremely rare condition (1/500,000 live births) in which a fetiform structure is incorporated into the body of its twin. FIF can be a diagnostic dilemma due to its similarity to a teratoma, but identification of FIF is important for subsequent medical and surgical management. We compare two cases of fetal masses diagnosed on prenatal imaging that were later identified as FIF through further radiological, surgical, and pathologic evaluation. We use these cases to illustrate key pre- and postnatal features of FIF and highlight the benefits of prenatal detection and follow-up for postnatal management.

DOI: 10.3233/NPM-16101

Journal: Journal of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, vol. 10, no. 3, pp. 333-338, 2017