A unique case of unilateral synophthalmia.
Developmental anomalies resulting in a single eye (cyclopia) or fusion of the eyes (synophthalmia) are rare. Examples of unilateral synophthalmia-in which there are 1 normal and 2 fused eyes from 3 anlagen in 2 orbits, 1 lateral proboscis, and 3 optic nerves-are even more rare. Herein, I report a unique fetus with unilateral synophthalmia that was not associated with a lateral proboscis but instead had an extra cerebral hemisphere. I postulate that the unilateral synophthalmia, accessory cerebral hemisphere, and minor structural abnormalities in the skull base were the result of failure in separating a monozygous twin, a situation similar to that postulated as the cause of fetus in fetu.
Department of Pathology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA. proia001@mc.duke.edu
Alan D
AD
Proia
D000015:Abnormalities, Multiple / Q000473:pathology*; D054022:Cerebrum / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000473:pathology; D005124:Eye Abnormalities / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D005333:Fetus / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D050497:Stillbirth