Fetus-in-fetu arising from the palate treated with ex-utero intrapartum treatment.
This case report describes prenatal detection of a palatal fetus-in-fetu causing impaired swallowing and anticipated airway obstruction, followed by caesarean delivery with EXIT airway management, tracheostomy, staged resection, and reported recovery of the infant.
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This case report describes prenatal detection of a palatal fetus-in-fetu causing impaired swallowing and anticipated airway obstruction, followed by caesarean delivery with EXIT airway management, tracheostomy, staged resection, and reported recovery of the infant.
Research significance
The reported case supports the feasibility of using individualized prenatal planning and EXIT to maintain placental support while securing the airway in a fetus with a large obstructive oral mass; it may be inferred that this strategy could reduce delivery-associated airway risk in similarly selected cases, but efficacy and safety are not established beyond this report.
Source abstract
Epignathus, a teratoma arising from the palate or pharynx, is extremely rare and palatal fetus-in-fetu represents an even rarer anomaly. We report a prenatally diagnosed palatal fetus-in-fetu successfully managed with ex utero intrapartum treatment (EXIT). A 4 cm oral mass detected at 23 weeks caused polyhydramnios and gastric shrinkage, suggesting impaired swallowing and potential airway obstruction. Multidisciplinary evaluation determined the need for EXIT to secure the airway under placental circulation. At 34+5 weeks of gestation, caesarean delivery with EXIT was performed; a 14 cm tumour was delivered and tracheostomy followed by staged resection was undertaken. Histopathology revealed multiple differentiated tissues-including nerve, gastrointestinal tract, adrenal gland, skin, bone and teeth-meeting Spencer's criteria for fetus-in-fetu. The infant recovered well and was discharged 96 days postnatally. EXIT proved invaluable for airway management in high-risk epignathus, and fetus-in-fetu differs from teratoma by its lower malignant potential, emphasising individualised prenatal planning and team collaboration.