A Human Fetus Was Removed From The Brain Of a Year Old Girl ~ Doctor Reported.

In an exceptionally rare medical occurrence, doctors in China have surgically removed a malformed fetus from the brain of a 1-year-old girl.

The child had been experiencing an enlarged head circumference and delayed motor skill development, prompting medical evaluation. Imaging studies revealed a mass within her brain’s ventricles, leading to the diagnosis of an intraventricular fetus-in-fetu—a condition where a malformed monochorionic diamniotic twin is found within the cranial cavity.

Fetus-in-fetu is an exceedingly uncommon phenomenon, occurring in approximately 1 in 500,000 live births. It arises during the early stages of embryonic development when identical twins fail to separate properly, resulting in one embryo being enveloped by the other. Typically, the parasitic twin is located in the abdominal region of the host; however, intracranial presentations are extraordinarily rare, with fewer than 20 cases documented worldwide.

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In this particular case, the parasitic twin had developed a vertebral column, leg bones, and even upper limb buds with finger-like projections. Additionally, the malformed fetus exhibited spina bifida, a condition where part of the spinal cord is exposed due to incomplete development of the surrounding tissues. The presence of these structures within the child’s brain was causing significant pressure, leading to the observed neurological symptoms.

Surgical intervention was deemed necessary to alleviate the pressure on the child’s brain and to prevent further neurological deterioration. The operation involved the careful extraction of the parasitic twin from the brain’s ventricular system. While the case report does not provide detailed information about the child’s postoperative recovery, previous instances of intracranial fetus-in-fetu have shown favorable outcomes following surgical removal.

This case underscores the importance of thorough medical evaluation in pediatric patients presenting with unusual neurological symptoms.

Advanced imaging techniques play a crucial role in identifying rare conditions such as fetus-in-fetu, enabling timely and effective surgical intervention. The successful management of this case adds to the limited body of literature on intracranial fetus-in-fetu and provides valuable insights for future medical reference.

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