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Malaysian teenager has twin's foetus removed from stomach | Malaysian teenager has twin's foetus removed from stomach |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A 15-year-old Malaysian boy has had the parasitic foetus of his twin removed from his stomach, Malaysia's Bernama state news agency reports. | A 15-year-old Malaysian boy has had the parasitic foetus of his twin removed from his stomach, Malaysia's Bernama state news agency reports. |
The boy had lived with the twin in his stomach his whole life, but went to hospital after complaining of pain. | The boy had lived with the twin in his stomach his whole life, but went to hospital after complaining of pain. |
His mother told Bernama the foetus "was formed with organs like those of a baby". | His mother told Bernama the foetus "was formed with organs like those of a baby". |
It is believed to be the first reported case of the condition, known medically as "fetus in fetu", in Malaysia. | It is believed to be the first reported case of the condition, known medically as "fetus in fetu", in Malaysia. |
The boy's mother, 38, said funeral rites had been performed on the foetus and it was buried at a local cemetery. | |
Reports said the foetus had legs, hands and genitals. | Reports said the foetus had legs, hands and genitals. |
"Only the nose and mouth were not complete," she said, saying she had accepted his fate. | "Only the nose and mouth were not complete," she said, saying she had accepted his fate. |
The teenager had been admitted to a local district hospital before being referred to the Sultan Abdul Hamid Hospital in Kedah for the operation to remove the twin. | The teenager had been admitted to a local district hospital before being referred to the Sultan Abdul Hamid Hospital in Kedah for the operation to remove the twin. |
The hospital and Malaysia's government health officials would not comment on the case to the BBC. | The hospital and Malaysia's government health officials would not comment on the case to the BBC. |
What is fetus in fetu? | What is fetus in fetu? |
Dr F Raman, obstetrics and gynaecology specialist at Pantai Hospital in the capital, Kuala Lumpur, told the BBC it is when an "additional twin gets absorbed into the body of the living twin". | Dr F Raman, obstetrics and gynaecology specialist at Pantai Hospital in the capital, Kuala Lumpur, told the BBC it is when an "additional twin gets absorbed into the body of the living twin". |
"It's almost like a vanishing twin, or sometimes called a parasitic twin," he said. | "It's almost like a vanishing twin, or sometimes called a parasitic twin," he said. |
"I have actually seen a case of the foetus being attached to the outside of the living twin, so it's possible for the twin to be both inside or outside the body." | "I have actually seen a case of the foetus being attached to the outside of the living twin, so it's possible for the twin to be both inside or outside the body." |
There have also been cases of two twins found inside the abdomen of one child, in the case of a triplet pregnancy. | There have also been cases of two twins found inside the abdomen of one child, in the case of a triplet pregnancy. |
What causes it? | What causes it? |
There is no known trigger, but it occurs in the early stages of development when one foetus wraps around the other. | There is no known trigger, but it occurs in the early stages of development when one foetus wraps around the other. |
The enveloped twin then does not fully form but becomes a "parasite", relying on their host twin for their survival. Such twins usually die before birth. | The enveloped twin then does not fully form but becomes a "parasite", relying on their host twin for their survival. Such twins usually die before birth. |
The abnormality is estimated to occur in 1 in 500,000 live births. | The abnormality is estimated to occur in 1 in 500,000 live births. |
Is it unusual to live so long with the twin? | Is it unusual to live so long with the twin? |
One widely reported case was of a 36-year-old man in India whose tumour had grown so big that he was having difficulty breathing. | |
In villages or smaller towns where access to medical facilities are limited, it is possible for someone to not know they have a foetus and live with it their entire life, says Dr Raman. | In villages or smaller towns where access to medical facilities are limited, it is possible for someone to not know they have a foetus and live with it their entire life, says Dr Raman. |
The abnormality is easily spotted if a baby undergoes an ultrasound or CT scan, and there have been cases of babies as young as three months old being operated on. | The abnormality is easily spotted if a baby undergoes an ultrasound or CT scan, and there have been cases of babies as young as three months old being operated on. |