PMC6419244_01
Abdominal ultrasound images at 16 weeks' gestation. Calculated waist of the pump twin from the abdominal circumference (a), and that of the acardiac twin from the transverse trunk diameter and antero-postero trunk diameter (b).
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At 16 weeks of gestation, the calculated waist of the pump twin was 9.63 cm (Figure 1(a)) and that of the acardiac twin was 10.93 cm (Figure 1(b)).
A gross (a) view of the acardiac twin suggested a deficit of upper body, which was confirmed by a loupe view (b), demonstrating the disruption of vertebrae (white arrows). (c) Umbilical cord of the acardiac twin consisted of two arteries and one vein with degenerative or necrotic change. (d) Striated skeletal muscle tissue was identified in the sections.
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A gross image (Figure 2(a)) and a loupe image (Figure 2(b)) showed that the upper body of the acardiac was deficient. On microscopic examination, a small umbilical cord-like structure was seen (Figure 2(c)). Striated skeletal muscle tissue was identified in the sections (Figure 2(d)), but heart tissue composed of myocardium was not found in the section.