Fetus in fetu: molecular analysis of a fetiform mass

Am J Med Genet. 1993 Sep 1;47(3):333-41. doi: 10.1002/ajmg.1320470308.

Abstract

Fetus-in-fetu is a rare condition presenting as a calcified intra-abdominal mass in the newborn infant. Over 50 cases of fetus-in-fetu have been reported since 1800. Karyotype analysis in 8 cases and protein polymorphisms in 4 documented identical findings in the host and fetiform mass. We report a case of fetus-in-fetu in a newborn female including cytogenetic and molecular studies of both the host and mass. Genotypic information from 7 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays representing 4 chromosomes demonstrates heterozygous and identical alleles in the infant and fetus-in-fetu at all loci studied. A review of the literature is provided including a discussion regarding the impact of molecular data on present hypotheses of fetus-in-fetu pathogenesis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Abdomen
  • Calcinosis*
  • DNA / analysis
  • Diseases in Twins* / embryology
  • Diseases in Twins* / genetics
  • Female
  • Fetal Diseases* / embryology
  • Fetal Diseases* / genetics
  • Fetus*
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Karyotyping
  • Models, Biological
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Polymorphism, Genetic
  • Teratoma / genetics
  • Twins, Monozygotic*

Substances

  • DNA