Advances in Nursing & Midwifery

Vol. 34 No. 1 (2025)

Fetus in Fetu in a Term Pregnancy: Case Report

Advances in Nursing & Midwifery, Vol. 34 No. 1 (2025), 15 January 2025 , Page 87-89
https://doi.org/10.22037/anm.v34i1.50566

Abstract

Introduction: Fetus in Fetus (FIF) is a very rare anomaly in which a single fetus develops in a living fetus. This case report aims to present the maternal and intrapartum findings, neonatal presentation, and surgical outcomes of a rare fetus-in-fetus diagnosed at term gestation.
Case Presentation: A 21-year-old primigravid woman (G1P0) at a gestational age of 39 weeks and 5 days presented to Bent-Al-Huda Hospital (A medical center) in Bojnurd with complaints of labor pain. In the fetal ultrasound examination, an abdominal mass with a spine was observed inside the abdomen, suggesting Fetus in Fetu. The diagnosis of fetus-in-fetu was made at birth, at 39 weeks and 5 days of gestation. After a normal vaginal delivery, the baby underwent surgery 7 days later and was discharged from the hospital in good general condition.
Conclusions: Fetus-in-fetu is considered a rare congenital condition resulting from aberrant embryonic division in monozygotic twin pregnancies, leading to the presence of a parasitic twin within the host. The clinical presentation varies depending on the size, location, and degree of organ differentiation of the mass, with most cases presenting as an abdominal mass in neonates. Consistent with previously reported cases in the literature, complete surgical excision remains the treatment of choice and generally leads to excellent outcomes when the mass is fully removed. The findings in our case align with prior reports emphasizing early recognition, careful imaging evaluation, and timely surgical management to prevent compressive complications and ensure a favorable neonatal prognosis.

Keywords:
  • Fetus
  • Pregnancy
  • Malignancy
  • Masses
  • Case Report
  • Diagnosis

How to Cite

Ghazavi, S. T., Rashidi, F., Ehteshammanesh, H., & Ezzati Yazdani, A. (2025). Fetus in Fetu in a Term Pregnancy: Case Report. Advances in Nursing & Midwifery, 34(1), 87–89. https://doi.org/10.22037/anm.v34i1.50566

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