Fetus in fetu is a rare condition where a growth resembling a fetus develops inside a patient’s body, often in the abdomen. It is parasitic and cannot survive on its own, and treatment involves surgery to remove the growth. The condition can be caused by a teratoma or the failure to raise a pair of twins. It is estimated to occur in about one of every 500,000 births.
A fetus within a fetus is an extremely rare congenital anomaly in which a growth that superficially resembles a fetus develops inside a patient’s body, often in the abdomen. The growth is parasitic and cannot survive on its own, as it lacks a number of key organs, including the brain. It can also endanger the patient with its parasitic use of the patient’s blood supply for nutrition. Treatment involves surgery to remove the growth and check for complications within the patient.
There are two possible mechanisms for this unusual condition to occur. It can be a form of teratoma, a tumor that arises from undifferentiated cells. Teratomas contain a hodgepodge of tissue types including skin, hair, and bone, and sometimes have a very organized appearance. They can have structures like limbs, for example. These growths can become malignant in some patients. Other cases of fetus in fetu may be the result of failure to raise a pair of twins, in which one twin engulfs the other during fetal development.
Often, fetus in the fetus is diagnosed in the first months of life. The patient may have significant abdominal growth and may show signs of fatigue and restlessness. Some fail to thrive because the fetus in the fetus absorbs their nutrients. Medical imaging and a physical exam can reveal a growth, and surgery will fix the problem. In some rare cases, patients have survived into adulthood with the growth intact, seeking treatment when it becomes a problem.
The cases often attract media attention because the condition is rare and can be a topic of interest. As with conjoined twins, the fetus in the fetus can present an interesting medical challenge to doctors, who must figure out how to safely remove the growth. The extent of the attachment to the blood supply and a number of other issues may need to be considered when planning the surgery, with the goal of extracting the tumor and preserving the patient’s bodily functions.
Fetus in fetu is estimated to occur in about one of every 500,000 births, and very few cases have been documented in the medical literature. The condition is a source of fascination for some artists, who have depicted it in film, television and novels. It’s important to be aware that, despite the name, fetus in fetu does not refer to an actual fetus; it cannot survive independently, lacks a brain, and is a parasitic growth, not another human being.
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