title: Conjoined twins after intracytoplasmic sperm injection and transfer of day-3 embryos.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report a case of conjoined twins conceived through assisted reproduction after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and the transfer of three eight-cell embryos on day 3.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case report.
  
  
  METHODS
  Assisted reproduction unit of a private hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 32-year-old patient underwent ICSI and received three embryos.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ovarian stimulation and ICSI.
  
  
  METHODS
  Images of the embryos and ultrasound images of the fetuses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One embryo measuring 7 weeks, relatively big in size and bizarre in appearance with one heartbeat, was detected on transvaginal ultrasound at 6 weeks, 4 days of pregnancy. Two weeks later, another ultrasound was performed; two fetuses with a common heart were observed. In 10th week of pregnancy, two fetuses with two hearts and an attached thorax were observed. A diagnosis of thoracopagus was made, and the pregnancy was terminated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Conjoined twins conceived through assisted reproduction are extremely rare. This case, which occurred after transfer of cleavage-stage embryos, suggests that ovulation induction, ICSI, and assisted hatching may also play roles in addition to other factors commonly proposed to be responsible for conjoined twining, such as in vitro culture condition, culture time, and blastocyst-stage transfer.
authors: Assisted Reproduction Unit, Women's Health Center, VKV American Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. ramazanm@maerikanhastanesi.org
authors: Ramazan
authors: R
authors: Mercan
authors: Ozgur
authors: O
authors: Oktem
authors: Zeki
authors: Z
authors: Salar
authors: Alp
authors: A
authors: Nuhoglu
authors: Basak
authors: B
authors: Balaban
authors: Bulent
authors: B
authors: Urman
mesh_terms: D000028:Abortion, Induced; D000328:Adult; D004624:Embryo Transfer / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000628:therapy*; D010062:Ovulation Induction / Q000009:adverse effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D012307:Risk Factors; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014428:Twins, Conjoined / Q000601:surgery; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal