Fetus in Fetu
Fetus in fetu is an extremely rare condition of parasitic twinning:
Very early in a monozygotic twin pregnancy, in which both fetuses share a common placenta, 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.
…as in the case of Sanju Bhagat of India, who in 1999 at the age of 36 had a parasitic twin removed from his stomach:
One doctor recalled that day in the operating room.
“He just put his hand inside and he said there are a lot of bones inside,” she said. “First, one limb came out, then another limb came out. Then some part of genitalia, then some part of hair, some limbs, jaws, limbs, hair.”
Inside Bhagat’s stomach was a strange, half-formed creature that had feet and hands that were very developed. Its fingernails were quite long.
“We were horrified. We were confused and amazed,” Mehta said.
At first glance, it may look as if Bhagat had given birth. Actually, Mehta had removed the mutated body of Bhagat’s twin brother from his stomach.
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