title: [Anencephaly in twin pregnancy: a series of 6 cases].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report a series of cases of anencephaly in twin pregnancies and assess the prognosis of the normal twin.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study covering 4 years, at the CHU Campus in Lomé, assessing the sonographic aspects and management of cases of anencephaly in twin pregnancies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Anencephaly was found in 6 twin pregnancies. The mothers' mean age was 31 years and all had a very low socioeconomic status. All had drunk a plant infusion of an unknown chemical composition in early pregnancy. Mean gestational age at diagnosis was 25 weeks. Ultrasound performed in all cases showed that 5 cases involved monochorionic diamniotic placentas, and 1 case a dichorionic placenta. Both fetuses were alive at diagnosis in all cases: one had anencephaly and the other twin was normal. The average estimated weight of the anencephalic twin at diagnosis was 659 grams, and of the normal twin, 749 grams; growth was thus discordant. Hydramnios was noted in all cases. Expectant monitoring was instituted; both twins died before 30 weeks in 4 cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Anencephaly in twin pregnancy is a rare occurrence. Ultrasound can be involved in the diagnosis and management.
authors.affiliation: Service de radiologie, CHU Campus, 05 BP 739, 00228 Lomé, Togo. amadoulatif@yahoo.fr
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Amadou
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sonhaye
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Douaguibe
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tchaou
authors.forename: L K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Agoda-Koussema
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Etteh Adjenou
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: N'dakena
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000757:Anencephaly / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004200:Diseases in Twins; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal
keywords: anencephaly; hydramnios; twin pregnancy; ultrasound