Minimally Conjoined Omphalopagus Twins with a Body Stalk Anomaly.
Introduction This report will discuss a case of minimally conjoined omphalopagus twins (MCOTs) with a body stalk anomaly (BSA). Case Report We experienced monochorionic diamniotic (MD) twins born at 31 weeks. One infant was suspicious of BSA before birth, and another infant was normal. But normal infant had anal atresia with small intestine which was inserted behind the umbilicus. Twins had very short common umbilicus and infant with BSA had intestinal conjunction, two appendixes at the site of the colon, and a blind-ending colon. We diagnosed MCOTs. Discussion On the basis of the Spencer hypothesis, the etiology of MCOTs was that MD twins shared a yolk sac. However, this could not explain the presence of a BSA. It is necessary to consider the possible reasons for a singleton BSA. In addition, intestinal fusion occurred unequally in this case, although two appendixes were found in the same place, which might have occurred because of the balanced fusion.
Department of Pediatrics, Kochi Health Sciences Center, Kochi, Japan.
Hidehiko
H
Maruyama
Department of Diagnostic Pathology, Kochi Health Sciences Center, Kochi, Japan.
Takeshi
T
Inagaki
Department of Pediatrics, Kochi Health Sciences Center, Kochi, Japan.
Yusei
Y
Nakata
Department of Pediatrics, Kochi Health Sciences Center, Kochi, Japan.
Akane
A
Kanazawa
Department of Pediatrics, Kochi Health Sciences Center, Kochi, Japan.
Yuka
Y
Iwasaki
Department of Pediatric Surgery, Kochi Health Sciences Center, Kochi, Japan.
Kiyoshi
K
Sasaki
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kochi Health Sciences Center, Kochi, Japan.
Ryuhei
R
Nagai
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kochi Health Sciences Center, Kochi, Japan.
Hiromi
H
Kinoshita
Department of Diagnostic Pathology, Kochi Health Sciences Center, Kochi, Japan.
Jun
J
Iwata
Department of Pediatrics, Kochi Health Sciences Center, Kochi, Japan.
Kiyoshi
K
Kikkawa
body stalk anomaly; intestinal conjunction; minimally conjoined omphalopagus twins