Korean J Perinatol.  1998 Sep;9(3):314-319.

Two Cases of Multicystic Encephalomalacia in a Surviving Co-twin with One Intrauterine Fetal Death

• Song TB
• Choi YY
• Cho TH
• Kang JS
• Cho CY

Abstract

Various anatomical defects have been described in the surviving co-twin who had stillborn, macerated monozygotic co-twin with disseminated intravascular coagulation. The suggested mechanism was the transfer of emboli or thromboplastic materials of dead fetus to co-twin through placental vascular anastomoses. Multicystic encephalomalacia is the condition defined anatomically by the presence of multiple cavities in the great part of both cerebral hemispheres. The most common pathogenesis is circulatory disturbance caused by neonatal asphyxia during the perinatal period. We experienced two cases of monozygotic twin with deceased co-twin at 26 weeks, 33 weeks of gestation and confirmed the diffuse multicystic encephalomalacia by cranial ultrasonography and MRI in a surviving co-twin. Only one patient has been followed who showed spastic cerebral palsy and severe mental retardation. We report two cases of multicystic encephalomalacia in a surviring co-twin with a intrauterine fetal death and its related literatures.

Keyword

Multicystic encephalomalacia; Twin pregnancy; Surviving co-twin

MeSH Terms

Asphyxia
Cerebral Palsy
Cerebrum
Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation
Encephalomalacia*
Fetal Death*
Fetus
Humans
Intellectual Disability
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Pregnancy
Pregnancy, Twin
Twins, Monozygotic
Ultrasonography