PRENATAL-DIAGNOSIS OF ANATOMICAL CONNECTIONS IN CONJOINED TWINS BY USE OF CONTRAST MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING

Omphalopagus conjoined twins were diagnosed by ultrasonography in a pr egnant woman at 21 weeks' gestation. In order to clarify the anatomica l connections, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed, having achieved fetal paralysis by intravascular injection of 100 mg of pancu ronium into each twin. Prior to MRI, 2 ml of a 0.0001 mmol/ml solution of gadolinium DTPA was also injected into the stomach of one twin. Th e contrast agent opacified the bowel loops of both twins, indicating b owel to bowel anastomosis. Following pregnancy termination, autopsy co nfirmed the prenatal diagnosis.