Fetus in fetu: Difference between revisions

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	'''Fetus in fetu''' (or '''''fœtus in fœtu''''') describes an extremely rare abnormality classified as a ] containing entire organ systems, even major body parts such as torso or limbs. It has often been interpreted as a ] growing within its ]. It is one of the most extreme forms of ]. The condition occurs in 1 in 500,000 live births.<ref name=msnbc1>], ], accessed ], ]]</ref>		'''Fetus in fetu''' (or '''''fœtus in fœtu''''') describes an extremely rare abnormality classified as a ] containing entire organ systems, even major body parts such as torso or limbs. It has often been interpreted as a ] growing within its ]. It is one of the most extreme forms of ]. The condition occurs in 1 in 500,000 live births.<ref name=msnbc1>], ], accessed ], ]]</ref>
			{{not verified}}

	==Development==		==Development==
	Fetus in fetu starts to develop very early in a monozygotic twin pregnancy, in which both fetuses share a common placenta, and one fetus wraps around and envelops the other. The enveloped twin becomes a ], in that its survival depends on the survival of its host twin, by drawing on the host twin's blood supply. Invariably the parasitic twin is ] (without a ]) and lacks some ], and as such is unable to survive on its own. The parasitic twin sometimes grows large enough to kill its host twin, in which case both twins die.<ref name=kirch>], accessed ], ]]</ref>		Fetus in fetu starts to develop very early in a monozygotic twin pregnancy, in which both fetuses share a common placenta, and one fetus wraps around and envelops the other. The enveloped twin becomes a ], in that its survival depends on the survival of its host twin, by drawing on the host twin's blood supply. Invariably the parasitic twin is ] (without a ]) and lacks some ], and as such is unable to survive on its own. The parasitic twin sometimes grows large enough to kill its host twin, in which case both twins die.<ref name=kirch>], accessed ], ]]</ref>
			{{not verified}}

	Sometimes, however, the host twin survives and is delivered. It continues to survive until it grows so large that it starts to harm the host, at which point ] usually intervene.<ref name=abc1/> The condition causes the host to look like they are ] (since they technically are) and can occur in both males and females.		Sometimes, however, the host twin survives and is delivered. It continues to survive until it grows so large that it starts to harm the host, at which point ] usually intervene.<ref name=abc1/> The condition causes the host to look like they are ] (since they technically are){{not verified}} and can occur in both males and females.

	This condition can be psychologically extremely disturbing for the person who receives a diagnosis of fetus in fetu, or even of an ordinary teratoma. Fetus in fetu differs from fetiform teratoma in having an apparent ] and ].<ref name="Gonzalez-Crussi1982">Gonzalez-Crussi, F. (1982 Extragonadal Teratomas. Atlas of Tumor Pathology, Second Series, Fascicle 18. Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Washington D.C.</ref>		This condition can be psychologically extremely disturbing for the person who receives a diagnosis of fetus in fetu, or even of an ordinary teratoma. Fetus in fetu differs from fetiform teratoma in having an apparent ] and ].<ref name="Gonzalez-Crussi1982">Gonzalez-Crussi, F. (1982 Extragonadal Teratomas. Atlas of Tumor Pathology, Second Series, Fascicle 18. Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Washington D.C.</ref>

Revision as of 19:39, 11 June 2007

Fetus in fetu (or fœtus in fœtu) describes an extremely rare abnormality classified as a teratoma containing entire organ systems, even major body parts such as torso or limbs. It has often been interpreted as a fetus growing within its twin. It is one of the most extreme forms of parasitic twin. The condition occurs in 1 in 500,000 live births.

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Development

Fetus in fetu starts to develop very early in a monozygotic twin pregnancy, in which both fetuses share a common placenta, and one fetus wraps around and envelops the other. The enveloped twin becomes a parasite, in that its survival depends on the survival of its host twin, by drawing on the host twin's blood supply. Invariably the parasitic twin is anencephalic (without a brain) and lacks some internal organs, and as such is unable to survive on its own. The parasitic twin sometimes grows large enough to kill its host twin, in which case both twins die.

Sometimes, however, the host twin survives and is delivered. It continues to survive until it grows so large that it starts to harm the host, at which point doctors usually intervene. The condition causes the host to look like they are pregnant (since they technically are)

and can occur in both males and females.

This condition can be psychologically extremely disturbing for the person who receives a diagnosis of fetus in fetu, or even of an ordinary teratoma. Fetus in fetu differs from fetiform teratoma in having an apparent spine and bilateral symmetry.

Examples

Alamjan Nematilaev was the surviving host of a Fetus in fetu. In 2003, aged 7, his school doctor in Kazakhstan referred him to hospital after movements were detected in the boy's enlarged stomach. An operation intended to remove a cyst uncovered the fetus of Alamjan's identical twin brother, which had lived as parasitic growth inside the boy throughout his entire life. The fetus was comparatively highly developed, with hair, arms, fingers, nails, legs, toes, genitals, a head, and a vague approximation of a face.

In June 1999, Sanju Bhagat, a man from Nagpur, India, was rushed to a hospital due to difficulty breathing. There, a surgical team removed from his bulging belly a teratoma, a kind of tumor. The report described that the surgical team found a living half-formed "creature" inside Mr. Bhagat's belly.

Appearances in popular culture

In Stephen King's novel The Dark Half, a writer's past fetus in fetu teratoma, which had been found and removed in childhood, is linked to the later appearance of a murderous "evil twin" version of himself that takes on the pseudonymous identity the writer had used for a dark series of novels, and that he had just retired.
In the X-Files episode "Humbug" the main character has a parasitic twin who detaches from his "host" and kills people around the town.

References

"Chilean boy born with fetus in his stomach", MSNBC, November 24, 2006, accessed June 4, 2007
^ "Fetus in Fetu", The Proceedings of the Athanasius Kircher Society, April 23, 2007, accessed June 4, 2007
^ "Man With Twin Living Inside Him—A Medical Mystery Classic", ABC News
Gonzalez-Crussi, F. (1982 Extragonadal Teratomas. Atlas of Tumor Pathology, Second Series, Fascicle 18. Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Washington D.C.
"How did that boy end up with his twin growing inside him?" The Guardian, July 17, 2003, accessed June 4, 2007
"The Boy Who Gave Birth to His Twin", Channel 4, December 2003, accessed June 4, 2007

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