Fetus-in-fetu: report of a case and a review of the literature

J Pediatr Surg. 2008 May;43(5):943-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2008.01.061.

Abstract

A 2-week-old girl was found to have an asymptomatic abdominal mass on routine examination. Surgical removal revealed the mass to have 4 limb buds situated relative to a palpable vertebral column. Karyotyping revealed the mass to be 46 XX. The mass was therefore diagnosed as a case of fetus-in-fetu. The literature on this rare entity is reviewed, and the diagnosis and pathogenesis of the disease are discussed.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Abdominal Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Fetus / abnormalities*
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Radiography
  • Retroperitoneal Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Retroperitoneal Space / diagnostic imaging*
  • Retroperitoneal Space / pathology
  • Teratoma / diagnosis
  • Twins, Monozygotic*