Early Diagnosis of Thoracopagus Conjoined Twins

Abstract

Introduction: Multiple pregnancy has increasing incidence, one of the related implications is the appearance of congenital defects, within which twins united by different anatomical areas are described. Although its occurrence is low, mortality is high, related to the affection of vital organs involved in the defect.
Objectives: To report a case of Siamese twins united by the thorax (thoracopagus) and to show the value of ultrasonography in the early diagnosis of congenital morphological defects.
Case report: A 26-year-old patient referred to the Havana Provincial Genetics Center from her health area, for the detection of a 12-week-old fetus with hydrops fetalis in the first trimester ultrasound. A confirmation ultrasound was performed, reporting a monoamniotic monochorial twin pregnancy of Siamese fetuses, hydropic, united in the thoracic region that share the heart and liver. Genetic
counseling was provided to the couple, who requested voluntary termination of the pregnancy. The pregnancy was terminated with a pharmacological method and 14-week-old Siamese fetuses were obtained. The findings reported by prenatal ultrasound were confirmed by pathological anatomy.
Conclusions: The early diagnosis of this defect by means of ultrasonography is undoubtedly the best tool that favors early decision-making in relation to the continuity of the pregnancy.