First-trimester ultrasonographic investigation of cardiovascular anatomy in thoracoabdominally conjoined twins.
Options for the treatment of thoracoabdominally conjoined twins are dependent on the anatomy of the cardiovascular system. It is important to increase the accuracy of diagnosis of conjoined twins with a fused heart. Color Doppler imaging performed in a 23-year-old nulliparous Japanese woman at 12 weeks of gestation revealed synchronized blood flow in 2 aortic arches arising from a single heart. The patient underwent a therapeutic abortion, and the diagnosis of conjoined twins with a fused heart was confirmed. Thus, color Doppler imaging is useful for investigating the cardiovascular anatomy in conjoined twins suspected of having a fused heart, even in an early gestational age.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jichi Medical School, Minamikawachi-machi, Tochigi, Japan. okuchi@jichi.ac.jp
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A
Ohkuchi
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H
Minakami
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I
Sato
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T
Nakano
M
M
Tateno
D000005:Abdomen; D000328:Adult; D002319:Cardiovascular System / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000196:embryology*; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D013909:Thorax; D014428:Twins, Conjoined; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal