What is Fetus in Fetu?

Dr. Nancy Snyderman is the chief medicaleditor for NBC News. Recently, she discussed a rare case of teratoma in an unborn childwhere a foot was discovered growing from a tumor in the brain. Teratoma is a condition that is not common, but when it does occur it is normally situation where various appendages are seen growing from different parts of the body.

The teratoma condition can be seen in the famous Barnabus and Baily circus poster where a man is seen with a leg hanging from his stomach. Teratoma is a tumor, usually non cancerous that contains extra body growths.  Even extra hair and teeth have been found in teratoma causes.

The case Snyderman was talking about can be seenthe link added at the end of this article on Fetus in Fetu. The link will help the reader understand the vast difference between the two conditions, although they can appear similar. The case in the link is a case where teratoma was in the child’s brain having a completely formed small foot. As a matter of fact, Dr. Snyderman said about the incident the following:

“I’ve seen quite a few teratomas in my life, in the neck, in the chest, in the abdomen,” Snyderman said. “Never one in the brain.”

Normally, a case where extra appendages are found is due to a case of Fetus in Fetu.  The most common case of when doctors find extra appendages in baby’s and small children or during invitro is when a twin literally is swallowed by another. I have seen this first hand in which a relative of mines who has twins that run in their family had what looked like an impression in one foot that looked like a baby foot as they grew older.  By the time they grew into being a teenager, it was very unnoticeable.

The relative’s case was never really taken seriously by the doctors, nevertheless, they differently had an tiny foot that never completely grew inside there natural foot.  It has always been of interest to family members if they had suffered in any way, fetus in fetu.  Fewer than 100 cases have been reported and that is a worldwide statistic.  Fetus in Fetu is when a twin engulfs the other during the growing stages inside the mother. It is interpetated as fetus in fetus.  One twin literally feeds off of the other as if it is a parasite.  It is believed that unless removed, it is more often than not fatal.  It is quite different that a siamese twin, but possible that some early dianosed siamese twins in history were actually cases of Fetus in Fetu.

Case of Teratoma with Video

© 2012 Sharon L. West