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Case Reports
. 2025 Feb 12:50:51.
doi: 10.11604/pamj.2025.50.51.46382. eCollection 2025.

Parapagus dicephalus dipus tribrachius conjoined twins: a case report

Mwaba Kopa  1 , Lukundo Siame  2 , Michelo Haluuma Miyoba  3   4 , Hillary Sichila  1 , Pauline Kaluba  1 , Benson Malambo Hamooya  5 , Collins Mukubesa  1 , Walaza Phiri  1   4 , Sydney Mulamfu  6 , Chanda Kapoma  1   4 , Sepiso Kenias Masenga  7
Affiliations
Case Reports

Parapagus dicephalus dipus tribrachius conjoined twins: a case report

Mwaba Kopa et al. Pan Afr Med J. .

Abstract

Conjoined twins are a rare occurrence, affecting approximately 1.47 per 100,000 live births as a result of the incomplete splitting of the embryo in monochorionic monoamniotic pregnancies, after 13-14 days post-fertilization. Early prenatal diagnosis through ultrasound between 11 and 14 weeks is crucial for counseling and management decisions, including pregnancy termination or continuation with the support of a multidisciplinary team. We report a case of a 17-year-old primigravida referred in the third trimester with an ultrasound diagnosis of parapagus dicephalus dipus tribrachius conjoined twins. Delivery was by elective cesarean section, and the twins shared a single heart with three ventricles, two atria, a large atrial septal defect, and an incompetent atrioventricular valve. They died of sepsis on day 20 post-delivery. In our setting, anomaly scans during the second trimester are rarely or never performed, highlighting the need for routine early anomaly scans to enable timely intervention and improve outcomes in similar cases.

Keywords: Conjoined twins; case report; congenital anomalies; monoamniotic monochorionic; parapagus dicephalus.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
parapagus dicephalus dipus tribrachius twins: the image highlights the shared body structure, including two heads, three arms, and two lower limbs, consistent with the parapagus dicephalus dipus tribrachius configuration
Figure 2
Figure 2
X-ray of parapagus dicephalus dipus tribrachius twins: the radiograph illustrates the shared skeletal anatomy, including a single thoracic cavity and pelvis, with distinct cranial structures and additional details of organ arrangement
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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