An Unusual Case of Heteropagus: Autosite With a Complex Cardiac Malformation

• Published in: Pediatrics and neonatology Vol. 52; no. 6; pp. 358 - 360
• Main Authors: Ozkan-Ulu, Hulya, Yilmaz, Yavuz, Sari, Fatma Nur, Altug, Nahide, Uras, Nurdan, Dilmen, Ugur
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.12.2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: Abnormalities, Multiple; autosite; Biological and medical sciences; cardiac malformation; conjoined twinning; General aspects; Heart Defects, Congenital - diagnostic imaging; Heart Defects, Congenital - surgery; Heart Ventricles - abnormalities; heteropagus; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Infectious diseases; Internal Medicine; Male; Medical sciences; parasite; Parasitic diseases; Pediatrics; Transposition of Great Vessels - diagnostic imaging; Twins, Conjoined; Ultrasonography; autosite; parasite; cardiac malformation; conjoined twinning; heteropagus; Heart; Pediatrics; Parasite; Parasitosis; Infection; Malformation; Tropical medicine; Heteropagus twin; Conjoined twin
• ISSN: 1875-9572; 2212-1692
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pedneo.2011.08.011

Asymmetrical form of conjoined twinning (heteropagus) is an extremely rare event with an incidence of 1–2 million live births. The incomplete component of heteropagus, namely, parasite, usually consists of rudimentary organs. Therefore, the autosite component of heteropagus can be separated successfully. A wide spectrum of associated congenital cardiac malformations, which are usually minor, has been described in autosites. However, a single-ventricle heart anomaly in the autosite has been reported in a very few cases. We report an unusual case of heteropagus with a complex cardiac malformation. To the best of our knowledge, this is the third heteropagus case in the literature with a single-ventricle heart in the autosite.