Case Reports in Obstetrics and GynecologyVolume 2011 (2011), Article ID 235873, 3 pagesdoi:10.1155/2011/235873

Case Report

Conjoined Twins in a Triplet Pregnancy: A Case Report

Lynn J. Shepherd and Graeme N. Smith

Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Kingston General Hospital, Queen's University, Victory 4, 76 Stuart Street, Kingston, ON, Canada, K7L 2V7

Received 5 May 2011; Accepted 6 July 2011

Academic Editors: B. A. Gbolade, A. Ohkuchi, B. Piura, E. Shalev, and I. M. Usta

Copyright © 2011 Lynn J. Shepherd and Graeme N. Smith. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract.

Background. Conjoined twins are a rare complication of monozygotic twinning and are associated with high perinatal mortality. Case. Here we present a case of conjoined twins in a triplet pregnancy diagnosed at 13 of weeks gestation. With the aid of 3D ultrasound and MRI images, the parents were counseled regarding the management options, including continuation of pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, or selective fetocide. They chose selective fetocide of the conjoined twins and went on to deliver the remaining triplet at term. Conclusion. This case represents to our knowledge the only MRI images of conjoined twins in a triplet pregnancy and demonstrates how 3D imaging can be used to better counsel patients about management options.

1. Introduction

Conjoined twins occur when division of a single zygote takes place twelve to thirteen days after fertilization [1]. Fetuses share not only a single amniotic cavity but also parts of their bodies. The incidence is estimated at 1 in 80,000 deliveries [2]. Conjoined twins within a triplet pregnancy are very rare and a recent review suggested the incidence is less than one in a million deliveries [3]. The purpose of this report is to describe the presentation and management of a dichorionic triplet pregnancy complicated by conjoined twins.

2. Case Report

A thirty-two-year-old gravida 1 para 0 was referred to High Risk Obstetrics with a diagnosis of dichorionic diamniotic twin gestation. She had been treated with clomiphene citrate to conceive following a history of unexplained infertility. An early ultrasound at six weeks gestation was reported as a dichorionic diamniotic twin gestation. This was based on a crown rump length (CRL) of 10.1 mm for fetus A and 16.8 mm for fetus B. Two separate and distinct fetal heartbeats were also reported.

The patient wished to participate in Integrated Prenatal Screening, and she presented for a nuchal translucency at thirteen weeks and one day of gestation. This scan identified a triplet gestation complicated by a set of conjoined twins. One amniotic sac contained a single fetus (triplet A) with a CRL of 74 mm and a nuchal translucency of 1.5 mm. Within the second amniotic sac, triplets B and C, were joined through the thorax and abdomen, with four arms, four legs and a single heart centrally located between the two fetuses. The CRL for triplet B was 62.2 mm, and the nuchal translucency was measured at 3.9 mm. The CRL for triplet C was 62.5 mm, and a cystic hygroma was also seen. The nuchal translucency for Triplet C was 7.1 mm. Using 3D ultrasound and MRI, a diagnosis of thoracoomphalopagus was confirmed (see Figures 1–3).

Figure 1: 3D image of conjoined twins.

Figure 2: Shared fetal heart of conjoined twins.

Figure 3: MRI images of conjoined twins in a triplet pregnancy.

The parents were counseled and options discussed included (1) continue the pregnancy understanding that the shared heart meant the conjoined twins could not be separated should they survive to delivery, (2) terminate the entire pregnancy or, (3) selective feticide of the conjoined twins. After further counseling and deliberation the parents chose the third option. This was carried out at 13 weeks and five of days gestation by intracardiac potassium chloride injection. A repeat scan was performed four days later again confirming a viable singleton gestation with fetal demise of conjoined twins. The patient went on to have another scan at 17 weeks and 6 days of gestation, which showed normal anatomy and interval growth of the remaining triplet. The nonviable conjoined twins were noted at the time of that scan.

The pregnancy continued without complication, and a healthy male infant was delivered by low forceps for maternal exhaustion weighing 3590 grams at 40 of weeks gestation. Apgars were 7 and 9. The vestiges of the conjoined twins were not visible at the time of delivery. The mother and infant were discharged home on postpartum day four.

3. Discussion

A review published in 2003 reported thirteen cases of conjoined twins within a triplet pregnancy [2]. Ultrasound was used to make the diagnosis in the first trimester in six cases (46%) [2, 4–7], in the second trimester in six cases (46%) [8–14], and in the third trimester in the remaining case (8%) [15]. Four of the patients chose to terminate the entire pregnancy (31%). Three patients chose expectant management. One of these women was delivered by elective section at 36 weeks with all three infants surviving. The remaining two were delivered prior to 32 weeks following early rupture of membranes and preterm labour. Five patients had a selective termination of the conjoined twins. Three of these women went on to deliver at term without complication. All three pregnancies were dichorionic. The remaining two selective reductions resulted in intrauterine fetal demise of the nonconjoined triplets; one at the time of intracardiac injection and the other at 28 weeks following cord entanglement. Both of these pregnancies were monochorionic. The final case reported no intervention but subsequent early intrauterine demise of the conjoined twins.

In the review [2], three of the thirteen pregnancies were conceived using artificial reproduction technology (ART). Recent data suggests the rate of monozygotic twinning is increased with ART, specifically when blastocysts are transferred [16–18]. It is thought that manipulation of the zona pellucida, as in assisted hatching [19, 20] and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) [21], further increases the risk of monozygotic twins and by extension of conjoined twins. A review of the literature reveals nine published cases of conjoined twins, triplet or quadruplet pregnancies conceived using ART [22]. Seven of the nine cases used assisted hatching or ICSI.

A false positive diagnosis of conjoined twins has been reported [23] identifying the need for further imaging modalities to confirm the diagnosis and facilitate counseling of the woman and her partner. There is no evidence that MRI is associated with any risk to the developing fetus [24].

4. Conclusion

To our knowledge, this case represents the first MRI images of conjoined twins in a triplet pregnancy. This case was diagnosed at 13 weeks using conventional ultrasound. Further evaluation with 3D ultrasound and MRI was used to provide images used in counseling the parents (see Figures 1 and 2). The quality and clarity of the 3D ultrasound and MRI images allowed the parents to fully understand the extent and severity of the deformity which enabled them to reach an informed decision on management.

References

F. G. Cunningham, K. J. Leveno, S. L. Bloom, J. C. Hauth, L. Gilstrap, and K. D. Wenstrom, “Multifetal gestations,” in Williams Obstetrics, D. Rouse, B. Rainey, C. Spong, and G. D. Wendel, Eds., p. 914, McGraw-Hill, Boston, Mass, USA, 22nd edition, 2005.

N. J. Sebire, W. Sepulveda, P. Jeanty, D. A. Nyberg, and K. H. Nicolaides, “Multiple gestations,” in Diagnostic Imaging of Fetal Anomalies, D. A. Nyberg, J. P. McGahan, D. H. Pretorius, and G. Pilu, Eds., pp. 777–813, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia, Pa, USA, 2003.

W. Sepulveda, H. Munoz, and J. L. Alcalde, “Conjoined twins in a triplet pregnancy: early prenatal diagnosis with three-dimensional ultrasound and review of the literature,” Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology, vol. 22, no. 2, pp. 199–204, 2003.

P. Boulot, F. Deschamps, B. Hedon, F. Laffargue, and J. L. Viala, “Conjoined twins associated with a normal singleton: very early diagnosis and successful selective termination,” Journal of Perinatal Medicine, vol. 20, no. 2, pp. 135–137, 1992.

D. W. Skupski, J. Streltzoff, J. M. Hutson, Z. Rosenwaks, J. Cohen, and F. A. Chervenak, “Early diagnosis of conjoined twins in triplet pregnancy after in vitro fertilization and assisted hatching,” Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine, vol. 14, no. 8, pp. 611–615, 1995.

F. Gardeil, R. Greene, S. NiScanaill, and J. Skinner, “Conjoined twins in a triplet pregnancy,” Obstetrics and Gynecology, vol. 92, no. 4, p. 716, 1998.

Y. Goldberg, I. Ben-Shlomo, E. Weiner, and E. Shalev, “First trimester diagnosis of conjoined twins in a triplet pregnancy after IVF and ICSI,” Human Reproduction, vol. 15, no. 6, pp. 1413–1415, 2000.

R. W. Hartung, V. Yiu-Chiu, and C. A. Aschenbrener, “Sonographic diagnosis of cephalothoracopagus in a triplet pregnancy,” Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine, vol. 3, no. 3, pp. 139–141, 1984.

E. Shalev and H. Zuckerman, “Conjoined twins in triplet pregnancy [Letter],” American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, vol. 157, p. 1323, 1987.

J. J. Apuzzio, V. V. Ganesh, J. Chervenak, and J. C. Sama, “Prenatal diagnosis of dicephalous conjoined twins in a triplet pregnancy,” American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, vol. 159, pp. 1214–1215, 1988.

E. P. Sakala, T. M. Scott, and V. Arora, “Antenatal diagnosis of cephalothoracopagus twins in a triplet pregnancy: a case report,” Journal of Reproductive Medicine for the Obstetrician and Gynecologist, vol. 34, no. 5, pp. 365–368, 1989.

S. Lipitz, J. Ravia, M. Zolti et al., “Sequential genetic events leading to conjoined twins in a monozygotic triplet pregnancy,” Human Reproduction, vol. 10, no. 12, pp. 3130–3132, 1995.

J. R. Wax, D. Royer, J. D. Steinfeld, and C. J. Ingardia, “Ultrasonographic diagnosis of thoracopagus conjoined twins in a monoamniotic triplet gestation,” American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, vol. 181, no. 3, pp. 755–756, 1999.

W. L. Koontz, L. Layman, A. Adams, and J. P. Lavery, “Antenatal sonographic diagnosis of conjoined twins in a triplet pregnancy,” American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, vol. 153, no. 2, pp. 230–231, 1985.

A. L. E. da Costa, S. Abdelmassih, F. G. de Oliveira et al., “Monozygotic twins and transfer at the blastocyst stage after ICSI,” Human Reproduction, vol. 16, no. 2, pp. 333–336, 2001.

A. A. Milki, S. H. Jun, M. D. Hinckley, B. Behr, L. C. Giudice, and L. M. Westphal, “Incidence of monozygotic twinning with blastocyst transfer compared to cleavage-stage transfer,” Fertility and Sterility, vol. 79, no. 3, pp. 503–506, 2003.

E. Sheiner, I. Har-Vardi, and G. Potashnik, “The potential association between blastocyst transfer and monozygotic twinning,” Fertility and Sterility, vol. 75, no. 1, pp. 217–218, 2001.

M. Alikani, N. Noyes, J. Cohen, and Z. Rosenwaks, “Monozygotic twinning in the human is associated with the zona pellucida architecture,” Human Reproduction, vol. 9, no. 7, pp. 1318–1321, 1994.

A. Hershlag, T. Paine, G. W. Cooper, G. M. Scholl, K. Rawlinson, and G. Kvapil, “Monozygotic twinning associated with mechanical assisted hatching,” Fertility and Sterility, vol. 71, no. 1, pp. 144–146, 1999.

N. Abusheika, O. Salha, V. Sharma, and P. Brinsden, “Monozygotic twinning and IVF/ICSI treatment: a report of 11 cases and review of literature,” Human Reproduction Update, vol. 6, no. 4, pp. 396–403, 2000.

B. C. Tarlatzis, H. S. Qublan, T. Sanopoulou, L. Zepiridis, G. Grimbizis, and J. Bontis, “Increase in the monozygotic twinning rate after intracytoplasmic sperm injection and blastocyst stage embryo transfer,” Fertility and Sterility, vol. 77, no. 1, pp. 196–198, 2002.

T. Hirata, Y. Osuga, A. Fujimoto et al., “Conjoined twins in a triplet pregnancy after intracytoplasmic sperm injection and blastocyst transfer: case report and review of the literature,” Fertility and Sterility, vol. 91, no. 3, pp. 933–e9–12, 2009.

I. M. Usta and J. T. Awwad, “A false positive diagnosis of conjoined twins in a triplet; pitfalls of first trimester ultrasonographic prenatal diagnosis,” Prenatal Diagnosis, vol. 20, no. 2, pp. 169–170, 2000.

U. M. Reddy, R. A. Filly, and J. A. Copel, “Prenatal imaging: ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging,” Obstetrics and Gynecology, vol. 112, no. 1, pp. 145–157, 2008.