Arkorful Joseph, Agyeman Emmanuel Fredua, Nmai Richmond Ashitey, Piersson Albert Dayor
University of Cape Coast, College of Health and Allied Sciences, Department of Imaging Technology & Sonography, Cape Coast, Ghana.
Department of Medical Imaging, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
Radiol Case Rep. 2024 Nov 15;20(1):846-850. doi: 10.1016/j.radcr.2024.10.124. eCollection 2025 Jan.
Dicephalic parapagus conjoined twins, a rarely occurring form of conjoined twinning has poor prognosis and remains a significant cause of perinatal deaths. Since majority of cases of conjoined twins are not compatible with life, early and reliable detection with diagnostic medical imaging remains crucial for adequate patient counselling, medical and surgical management. We present a case of dicephalic parapagus twin gestation with associated congenital anomalies detected for the first time with ultrasound in the third trimester in a 29-year-old pregnant woman. An initial first trimester ultrasound at 14 weeks gestational age was unremarkable. Ultrasound fetal anatomical survey in the third trimester remains reliable for the detection of rare fetal anomalies such as dicephalic parapagus twins that might have been missed in earlier scans. Continuous efforts should therefore be made for the inclusion of detailed anatomical survey in the early third trimester; particularly in women with unremarkable earlier ultrasound scans and in those reporting late for obstetric care.
双头胸腹联体双胎是一种罕见的联体双胎形式，预后较差，仍然是围产期死亡的一个重要原因。由于大多数联体双胎病例无法存活，通过诊断性医学影像进行早期且可靠的检测对于为患者提供充分的咨询、医疗和手术管理仍然至关重要。我们报告一例29岁孕妇在孕晚期经超声首次检测出的双头胸腹联体双胎妊娠，并伴有相关先天性异常。孕14周时的首次孕早期超声检查未见异常。孕晚期的超声胎儿解剖学检查对于检测罕见的胎儿异常（如双头胸腹联体双胎）仍然可靠，而这些异常在早期扫描中可能会被遗漏。因此，应持续努力在孕晚期早期纳入详细的解剖学检查；特别是对于早期超声检查未见异常以及产科护理就诊较晚的女性。
