title: "Hugging sisters": thoracoomphalopagus with anencephaly confirmed by three-dimensional ultrasonography at 9 weeks of gestation.
abstract: We describe a rare conjoined twinning at 9 weeks of gestation. We compared the results of two- and three-dimensional sonography with autopsy findings after the termination of pregnancy. These results showed a thoracoomphalopagus with a shared heart and visceral organs. Three-dimensional sonography showed anencephaly in one of the embryos. Early and accurate prenatal diagnosis of this type of conjoined twins using three-dimensional sonography is critical for both parental counseling and minimizing maternal morbidity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jae-Yoon
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Shim
authors.forename: Da-Hye
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Joo
authors.forename: Hye-Sung
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Won
authors.forename: Pil Ryang
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ahm
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000757:Anencephaly / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D011247:Pregnancy; D014428:Twins, Conjoined; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal