Rare medical phenomenon: Baby found inside newborn’s abdomen; Doctors fight to save her

In Madhya Pradesh, a rare and astonishing medical condition has surfaced where a baby was discovered inside the abdomen of a newborn. This condition, known as Fetus in Fetu (FIF), was identified during an ultrasound. The mother, who hails from Sagar district, delivered the baby normally. After the delivery, doctors at the district hospital’s Special Newborn Care Unit (SNCU) are closely monitoring the situation and discussing possible surgical interventions to ensure the newborn’s health.

Doctors discovered the condition when a pregnant woman from Kesli visited a private clinic for a routine checkup. During the ultrasound, an anomaly was observed in the fetus, which led to further investigations at the Bundelkhand Medical College.

Understanding fetus in fetu

Fetus in Fetu is an extremely rare condition, occurring in approximately one in 500,000 live births. In this case, a mass resembling a fetus was found inside the newborn's abdomen. Such cases are so rare that only about 200 have been documented globally.

Post-delivery, the newborn girl underwent a CT scan, which further confirmed the presence of a mass in her abdomen. Doctors are now debating whether to proceed with surgery to remove the mass. They have noted that while the likelihood of it being a fetus is high, the possibility of it being a teratoma, a type of tumor, cannot be ruled out.

Doctor’s perspective

Dr. P.P. Singh, the head of the Radiology Department at Bundelkhand Medical College, expressed his astonishment, noting that in his extensive career, he had never encountered such a case before. He emphasized the rarity of Fetus in Fetu, underscoring the unique nature of this medical condition.

The newborn girl is currently under careful observation in the hospital’s SNCU. The medical team is committed to ensuring her safety and well-being, with decisions about surgery being taken with utmost caution.