"Hugging sisters": thoracoomphalopagus with anencephaly confirmed by three-dimensional ultrasonography at 9 weeks of gestation
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Updated: Jun 2, 2026

A Modified Sonographic Algorithm for Image Acquisition in Life-Threatening Emergencies in the Critically Ill Newborn
Published on: April 7, 2023
Jae-Yoon Shim1, Da-Hye Joo, Hye-Sung Won
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
Abstract:
We describe a rare conjoined twinning at 9 weeks of gestation. We compared the results of two- and three-dimensional sonography with autopsy findings after the termination of pregnancy. These results showed a thoracoomphalopagus with a shared heart and visceral organs. Three-dimensional sonography showed anencephaly in one of the embryos. Early and accurate prenatal diagnosis of this type of conjoined twins using three-dimensional sonography is critical for both parental counseling and minimizing maternal morbidity.
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