Fetus in fetu: molecular analysis of a fetiform mass.
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.
Hing
A
A
Edward Mallinckrodt Department of Pediatrics, St. Louis Children's Hospital.
Corteville
J
J
Foglia
R P
RP
Bliss
D P
DP
Donis-Keller
H
H
Dowton
S B
SB
D000005:Abdomen; D002114:Calcinosis; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis; D004200:Diseases in Twins / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics; D005333:Fetus; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007621:Karyotyping; D008954:Models, Biological; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D013724:Teratoma / Q000235:genetics; D014430:Twins, Monozygotic
D004247:DNA