In an extremely rare medical case, a 32-year-old pregnant woman from Maharashtra’s Buldhana district has been diagnosed with ‘fetus in fetu’—a rare congenital anomaly where a malformed fetus is found inside another fetus.
The condition was detected during a routine sonography at Buldhana District Women’s Hospital when the woman, who is 35 weeks pregnant, visited for a check-up.
Doctors Confirm Rare Medical Condition
Dr. Prasad Agarwal, an obstetrician and gynecologist at the hospital, explained that ‘fetus in fetu’ is an exceptionally rare disorder, occurring in approximately one in 500,000 births. Globally, only around 200 cases have been reported, with 10-15 cases in India.
“The baby appeared almost fully developed but had some bones and fetus-like structures in its abdomen, which raised my suspicion. After consulting with radiologist Dr. Shruti Thorat, we confirmed the condition,” Dr. Agarwal said.
Considering the complexity of the case, the woman has been referred to a medical facility in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar for a safe delivery and further treatment.
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Fetus in Fetu, A Rare Condition
Fetus in fetu, also known as cryptodidymus, is a rare congenital disorder where a malformed parasitic twin is enclosed within the body of a living fetus or child. According to the medical journal Science Direct, this anomaly results from an abnormal monozygotic twin pregnancy, where one embryo is enveloped by the other during early development.
Though extremely uncommon, timely diagnosis and specialized medical intervention are crucial to ensuring the health of both mother and child.
