Time: 2024-07-11
A one - year - old girl in China tragically passed away just 12 days after undergoing surgery to remove a fetus that was growing inside her skull . Doctors discovered the fetus , which was once her twin sister , during a scan that revealed a 13 cm mass with bones and a spine in her brain . The young girl also experienced delays in motor skills and speech development , only able to say " mum . "
In this particular case , the fetus was removed from the girl 's brain through surgery , but the damage to her brain was too severe , leading to her untimely death . The condition is nearly 100 percent fatal when it occurs in the head , according to study authors Xuewei Qin and Xuanling Chen from Peking University International Hospital.
Doctors first noticed abnormalities in the girl 's head when her mother was 33 weeks pregnant . She was delivered via cesarean section at 37 weeks , with an abnormally large head circumference . At one year old , the girl had difficulty sitting up and walking , with limited speech abilities and poor motor skills in her hands.
After a CT scan revealed limb - like bone and mixed bone tissue shadows in her skull , doctors performed a craniotomy to remove the fetus . Inside the skull , they found an immature embryo with visible organs , such as the mouth , eyes , hair , forearms , hands , and feet . The fetus , 18 cm in length , had malformed features and limbs , as well as a spine.
Cases of fetus in fetu are extremely rare , with less than 200 reported in medical literature . The condition is often challenging to diagnose early on and tends to be fatal when located in the head . Despite advancements in medical technology , the complexities of this developmental abnormality continue to baffle researchers and doctors.
In conclusion , the story of the one - year - old girl with a fetus in her skull serves as a tragic reminder of the complexities of medicine and the mysteries that still surround certain rare conditions . This case sheds light on the importance of early detection and intervention in such instances to prevent devastating outcomes.