Aberrant twinning (diprosopus) associated with anencephaly

Abstract

A case of Monocephalus diprosopus, associated with craniorachischisis and duplication of most of the foregut derivates is presented. The major part of the cardiovascular system remained single but the heart exhibited severe defects, including a complete persistent atrioventricular canal, transposition of the great arteries and atresia of the pulmonary valve. This report further supports the hypothesis that certain types of incomplete twinning and neural tube defects may be caused by a single teratogenic mechanism.