WARNING – graphic imagery below
In an incredibly rare case of foetus in fetu, a newborn in India has shocked doctors who found a half formed body inside the baby’s stomach.
Foetus in fetu is an exceptionally rare condition, and there are only 200 reported cases in the world. The condition occurs when a deformed foetus is discovered inside the body of its twin.
In this instance, doctors found a 7cm mass inside the newborn’s stomach complete with brain and limbs.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Radiologist Dr Bhavna Thorat, who was the first to spot the mass in the baby’s stomach said he noticed the bones, upper and lower limbs of the fetus inside the fetal sac during a routine scan.
“The unique thing about it was I could see a tiny head with the brain inside,” he said.
“However, this parasitic twin didn’t have a skull bone.”
A foetus in fetu twin pregnancy is often fatal due to both ‘bodies’ competing for nutrition from a single chord.
However, at the time of writing this article, the as yet unnamed baby is reportedly healthy and doing well. He has been sent for testing, and the results are awaited.
An example of a foetus in fetu.
