August 10
Shimla: In a rare medical case, doctors at Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC), Shimla, have detected an underdeveloped foetus inside the mouth of an unborn baby during a routine ultrasound examination. The condition, known as ‘Fetus in Fetu’ or parasitic twin, is considered extremely uncommon.
The unusual case was detected during an ultrasound at around the 22nd week of pregnancy in a 20-year-old woman undergoing treatment at IGMC’s Department of Radiodiagnosis. Doctors noticed an abnormal mass-like structure near the lower jaw and oral cavity of the foetus, which was subsequently identified as a parasitic twin.
‘Fetus in Fetu’ is a developmental abnormality associated with twin pregnancies in which one poorly developed foetus becomes incorporated into the body of its normally developing twin during the early stages of pregnancy. The parasitic foetus cannot survive independently and remains dependent on the blood supply of the host foetus.
The condition is usually detected after birth, most commonly as a mass inside the abdomen. Its presence inside the oral cavity is exceptionally rare, making the IGMC case particularly unusual. According to the details shared by the doctors, the case has also been documented in an international medical journal.
Dr Shriti Thakur, Associate Professor at IGMC, said early detection was important as continued growth of the abnormal structure could interfere with the development of the baby and potentially create serious complications during delivery.
Doctors said the definitive treatment involves surgical removal of the parasitic foetal tissue after birth, under the supervision of an experienced surgical team. The case highlights the importance of detailed antenatal imaging in identifying rare congenital abnormalities before delivery.
