Parasitic Twins - A case report from the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital

Parasitic twins represent one of the rare forms of conjoined twins. We report the management of a male infant with a parasitic twin joined at the xypho-abdominal region. The host twin was well developed with an omphalocele as the only anomaly. The parasitic twin had multiple gastrointestinal, genitourinary, central nervous and musculoskeletal system anomalies. The junction site consisted of skin, cartilage and muscles. The umbilical vessels served the parasitic twin and adipose tissues. No major organ was shared. Surgical separation was carried out without difficulty and the xypho abdominal defect in the host twin was primarily closed. The host twin is doing well and has demonstrated normal developmental milestones to date.