UTILIZATION OF MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING IN AUTOPSY PLANNING WITH SPECIMEN PRESERVATION FOR THORACO-OMPHALOPAGUS SYMMETRICUS CONJOINED TWINS

Conjoined twinning is a rare obstetric event that has fascinated physi cians and laypersons alike for centuries. When this event occurs, earl y diagnosis, close prenatal management, and the proper route of delive ry will assure the best possible outcome for mother and affected infan ts. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is used both as an ancillary tech nique to the sonography for the antepartum diagnosis and in the preope rative planning for the surgical separation of conjoined twins. This r eport describes the MRI findings in conjoined twins of the thoraco-omp halopagus symmetricus type, a condition incompatible with extrauterine life. The twins were delivered at 21 weeks gestation. The MRI was use d to evaluate the anatomic nature of the internal anomalies. These fin dings were then used to develop an autopsy approach plan that preserve d the external phenotype. After dissection, the specimen was preserved by using polyethylene glycol and ultimately prepared for use as a tea ching specimen. Teratology 58:71-75, 1998. (C) 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.