'Fetus-in-fetu' is a very rare condition that affects one in five million people worldwide. (Representational Image: Unsplash) 
MedBound Blog

Shocking: Nagpur Man Pregnant for 36 Years

Sanju Bhagat, resident of Nagpur city in Maharashtra, suffered through abdominal pain and mental distress due to a rare condition called 'Fetus-in-fetu'

Dhanashree M. Thombare

Can men ever get pregnant? Have you ever heard such a question? Perhaps almost never. However, there is an incident in Nagpur that will also shock you. A 36-year-old man in Nagpur had a swollen stomach. People would even tease him, asking if he was pregnant. Finally, the young man decided to visit a doctor. Upon performing the operation, the doctor made a shocking discovery. The patient was suffering from a rare condition called "Fetus-in-fetu". This incident took place in Nagpur a few years ago.

Got teased due to a bloated stomach

This strange incident happened with Sanju Bhagat, a young man living in Nagpur. Sanju was very healthy and normal since childhood. Only his stomach was bigger compared to other children. At first, everyone ignored him as he must have had a stomach ache. However, as his age increased, so did the girth of his stomach. The family became worried when they noticed that the stomach was growing. Sanju's belly had grown so big that people started teasing him as a pregnant man.

Difficulty in breathing

According to various reports, Bharat was working hard to make ends meet, so he ignored the bulge in his abdomen to keep working while dealing with the teasing from friends and family. But in 1999, a swelling pressed on her diaphragm, making it difficult to breathe. As the pain became unbearable, he finally decided to go to the doctor.

When he went to the doctor, they thought it was a tumor right away. However, as soon as Dr. Ajay Mehta examined the stomach for surgery, he was shocked to see the inside view. Something came out of the stomach instead of a tumor.

When doctors cut open Sanju Bhagat's abdomen for surgery, they felt some bones inside. First, the doctor took out one leg, and then the rest of the body parts, like hair, hands, and jaw, were also taken out. Doctors were also surprised by this incident.

This phenomenon is termed as “Fetus-in-fetu" or “Vanishing Twin Syndrome”.

“Fetus-in-fetu" or “Vanishing Twin Syndrome”

A severely uncommon condition known as "Fetus-in-fetu" is characterized by the presence of a twin's body housing a deformed, underdeveloped fetus. It affects one in five million people worldwide. It occurs early in fetal development when one twin swallows and fuses the other twin into its own body. The ingested twin, known as a parasitic twin, remains trapped inside the body of the host twin, usually in the abdominal cavity. A fetus in the womb is often not noticed until later in life when symptoms such as an abdominal mass or pain appear. Typically, the removal of the parasitic twin requires a surgical procedure, which can be challenging due to the intricate nature of the condition. Moreover, the 'fetus-in-fetu' condition poses a significant risk of complications.

'Fetus-in-fetu' can be effectively treated with a surgical procedure that is considered curative because the condition is currently considered benign. (Representational Image: Unsplash)

Diagnosis

Preoperative diagnosis is usually performed using various imaging techniques such as ultrasound, plain radiography, computed tomography (CT), or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Treatment

"Fetus-in-fetu" or "Vanishing Twin Syndrome," a rare condition, can be effectively treated with a surgical procedure that is considered curative since the condition is currently regarded as benign.

(Input from various media sources.)

AIOCD Warns Against Swiggy, PharmEasy’s 10-Minute Medicine Delivery Partnership

NMC Defends Removal of Respiratory Medicine from MBBS Curriculum Amid Court Proceedings

Marylanders To Vote on Expansive ‘Right to Reproductive Freedom’

Election Outcome Could Bring Big Changes to Medicare

PM Modi's Mega Health & Employment Initiative: To Distribute 51,000 Appointment Letters