title: Prenatal diagnosis of parapagus diprosopus dibrachius dipus twins with spina bifida in the first trimester using two- and three-dimensional ultrasound.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Here, we report a case of parapagus diprosopus twins with spina bifida diagnosed in the first trimester of pregnancy using two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 28-year-old Taiwanese woman, gravid 1, para 0, visited our hospital due to an abnormal fetal head shape discovered by 2D ultrasound at 11-weeks gestation. Parapagus diprosopus twins with spina bifida were diagnosed after ultrasound examination. The characteristics of parapagus diprosopus twins are more illustrative in 3D ultrasound than in 2D ultrasound. After counseling, termination of pregnancy was chosen by the couple. Although necropsy was declined, the gross appearance and radiograph of the abortus confirmed our diagnosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  With the help of 3D ultrasound, we made an early and definitive diagnosis of conjoined twins.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chiayi Christian Hospital, Chiayi, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Pei-Yin
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Obstetrics and Gynecology Ultrasound Lab, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ching-Hua
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Guang-Perng
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Yeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan. Electronic address: 40129@cch.org.tw.
authors.forename: Charles Tsung-Che
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Hsieh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D016135:Spinal Dysraphism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014428:Twins, Conjoined; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal
keywords: conjoined twins; first trimester; prenatal diagnosis; spina bifida; three-dimensional ultrasound