title: [Acardic and acephalic fetus in the sequence of disruption of inter-twin transfusion syndrome: report of a case with autopsy].
abstract: An acardic, acephalic monster is a rare condition occurring once in every 35,000 deliveries. This report details one case occurring in a twin pregnancy in a 19 year old primigravid patient who has spontaneously aborted at 21 weeks gestation. Both twins were males, one of the them weighted 280 g and was acephalic. Autopsy study showed to be also acardic with rudiments of the gastrointestinal tract. The other weighted 350 g and was normal. The placenta was monoamniotic/monochorionic and both umbilical cords had three vessels on gross examination. We think that the scanty literature in Mexico is due to reluctance to report isolated cases like the one we comment here, and depending on local interest in teratology. The salient feature of the pertinent literature, as well as some clinical, radiological and pathogenic considerations are made.
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Patología de la Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad Autónoma de Guerrero, Departamento de Patología del Hospital General del ISSSTE y del Hospital General de Acapulco, Secretaría de Salud.
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bustamante Sarabia
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Arellano Chepetia
authors.forename: Arturo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reyes-Gutiérrez
mesh_terms: D000015:Abnormalities, Multiple / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005330:Fetofetal Transfusion / Q000150:complications*; D006257:Head / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000473:pathology*; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D014430:Twins, Monozygotic