Dateline Dehradun: Rinku (name changed) was only seven months old when his mother noticed his growing stomach. Initially, she ignored it, but as the stomach continued to enlarge, she became concerned. Despite consulting several doctors, Rinku did not find relief.
Rinku’s mother and family approached Dr. Santosh Singh, a senior Paediatric Surgeon at Himalayan Hospital Jollygrant. In Rinku’s initial examination, Dr. Singh suspected an abnormal mass in the stomach. An X-ray revealed that a human fetus was developing inside Rinku’s stomach.
Dr. Santosh Singh explained that this condition is medically termed “Fetus-in-Fetu” (Fetus inside a Fetus). After informing Rinku’s parents, the hospital’s surgical team meticulously planned the operation.
Dr. Santosh Singh shared that last week, Rinku underwent successful surgery, and the partially developed human fetus was successfully removed from his stomach. Four days after the operation, Rinku, now fully healthy, was discharged. T
he operation was made successful with the cooperation of Dr. Ayesha, Dr. Harish, Dr. Vaishnavi, Geeta, and Rajni.
What is Fetus-in-Fetu?
Dr. Santosh Singh, a paediatric surgeon at Himalayan Hospital Jollygrant, explained that “Fetus-in-Fetu” is an extremely rare phenomenon in human fetal development. For unknown reasons, one fetus begins to develop inside another, much like a parasite. This condition can be detected via ultrasound during the mother’s pregnancy, though in most cases, it is discovered after birth.
Occurs in One out of 500,000 Pregnancies
Dr. Santosh Kumar stated that cases like “Fetus-in-Fetu” can occur in one out of over 500,000 pregnancies. Typically, these cases are noticed when a baby’s stomach enlarges abnormally between one to two years of age. While the condition generally does not pose a life threat to the baby, it can lead to other serious health issues. The only treatment for this condition is surgery, which should be performed as soon as possible. In experienced hands, the surgery is safe and successful.
