title: Acardiac fetus in a triplet pregnancy.
abstract: The acardiac monster represents one of the most severe but rare congenital anomalies. It occurs only in multiple gestations associated with vascular anastomoses between the affected fetus and its co-twin. The prenatal diagnosis of an acardiac fetus must be suspected in any multiple gestation in which cardiac activity cannot be documented sonographically in a growing fetus. We report an acardiac fetus occurring in a spontaneously conceived triplet pregnancy. A review of the literature, including pathogenetic theories and sonographic reports, is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, D.C. 20037.
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Landy
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Larsen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schoen
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Larsen
authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Kent
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Weingold
mesh_terms: D009008:Abnormalities, Severe Teratoid; D000328:Adult; D000649:Amniocentesis; D005260:Female; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D014310:Triplets; D014463:Ultrasonography