Rare occurrence of a holoacardious acephalic monster: sonographic and pathologic findings

Sonography is gaining increasing importance in the diagnosis of anomalies in utero. Findings such as anencephaly, hydrocephaly, sacrococcygeal teratoma, fetal ascites, and obstructive uropathy have been described. Detection of anomalies such as these are important in the management of the pregnancy and aid in the preparation for the postnatal care or treatment of the fetus. While this article deals with the dramatic findings of a grossly anomalous fetus of a twin pregnancy, the ultimate value of ultrasound is its potential for detecting correctable malformation in a safe, noninvasive, and harmless manner.