Intrathoracic mass in a 5-month-old infant: fetus in fetu—a case report | ||
| Annals of Pediatric Surgery | ||
| Volume 18, Issue 1, January 2022 PDF (1.15 M) | ||
| DOI: 10.1186/s43159-022-00167-2 | ||
| Authors | ||
| Abdel-Kémal Bori Bata* ; Joseph Akodjènou; Gilles Modeste Alain Bognon; Simon Azandegbe Azonbakin; Romulus Takin; Jules Marouf Alao; Antoine Seraphin Gbenou; Armand Michel Fiogbe; Delphin Kuassi Mehinto | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Background The fetu in fetu (FIF) is an extremely rare congenital condition characterized by a 2nd fetus that grows into the body of the healthy twin. Its thoracic location is more exceptional. Case presentation We report a case of intrathoracic mass in a 5-month-old female infant, diagnosed after an assessment for respiratory distress. She underwent an emergency left thoracotomy which allowed for the removal of a large thoraco-mediastinal mass inside a membranous sac containing a clear liquid mixed with vernix caseosa. The mass was completely covered with normal skin, three lobes similar to rudimentary outline of the head and limb. It was attached to a single large vascular pedicle. The pathological examination concluded that there was a high possibility of FIF. The postoperative follow-up was uncomplicated, and the child is still in good clinical condition after the 5-month follow-up. Conclusion The assessment of the respiratory distress in an infant with a mass centered by an axial skeleton on the chest x-ray and thoracic CT scan may suggest a diagnosis of intrathoracic FIF. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Intrathoracic; mediastinal; Fetus in fetu | ||
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