Understanding Craniopagus Parasitic Twins
Craniopagus Parasiticus
BY Nicole Tuccinardi
(cra·ni·op·a·gus pa·ra·si·t'i·cus)
Craniopagus Parasiticus? What does that mean? An easier way to say and understand Craniopagus Parasiticus is the statement “Parasitic Twins”. This means conjoined or siamese twins where there is one twin fully developed and another that is usually just a head and occasionally a neck or a torso that is underdeveloped, and lives off of the developed twin but is parasitic. The medical definition of Craniopagus Parasiticus is; “Conjoined twins joined at the head (craniopagus) in which a rudimentary head (with little or no body) is attached to the head of the larger and usually more normal twin. The rudimentary head was thought to be parasitic.”. The term “Craniopagus
Parasiticus” comes from the two words Craniopagus meaning the condition of Siamese twins joined at the head, and the word Parasiticus coming from the latin word parasiti meaning parasites.
So why does this condition occur? Well there are two theories, the “Fission ” theory, and the “Lack of Blood” theory. The “Fission” theory states that a single zygote leads to the development of two fetuses but separation fails either during the second or fourth week of gestation. The “Lack of Blood” theory states that the lack of blood supply to the second twin due to the degeneration of the umbilical cord which halts the development of the fetus.
Where are the facts, why do they only have theories about this? There have only been ten documented cases of Craniopagus Parasiticus, and only three of which have survived birth. This is why they only have theories about how it occurs and do not have it down to an exact science yet. Cases; The most known case is Manar Maged, Born February 19, 2005. Her parasitic twin named Islaam was attached to the left side of her head facing forward, she was able to smile, blink, and even suck on a pacifier, but doctors decided that for Manar to be able to live, Islaam would have to be surgically removed, and that Islaam would not be able to live on her own. Manar died a few days before her second birthday due to Pneumonia. Another case is Rebecca Martínez, born December 10, 2003. Her parasitic twin or second head was only partially developed, it had a partially developed brain, ears, eyes and lips. It is said that its mouth would move when Rebecca was breast feeding. Tests showed that there was some activity in the brain but surgery was necessary, because the second head was growing faster than Rebeccas. Rebeca went into surgery on February 6, 2004 (the first surgery of its kind) to try to remove the other head, but died the morning of february 7, 2004 due to complications associated with the sugary. Finally, the case of who they called "Two-Headed Boy of Bengal". being the first case on record he was born in 1783, living approximately four years before dying from a cobra bite in 1787. They still have his skull preserved and at the Hunterian Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons of London.
Have there been cases of Craniopagus Parasiticus in other species than humans? There in fact have been cases in other species than humans. Such as a female baby egyptian water buffalo, born in september of 2005. Just like other cases they tried to save the autosite by surrendering the parasite.
In conclusion Craniopagus is an interesting subject that there is still a lot to be learned about.
BY Nicole Tuccinardi
(cra·ni·op·a·gus pa·ra·si·t'i·cus)
Craniopagus Parasiticus? What does that mean? An easier way to say and understand Craniopagus Parasiticus is the statement “Parasitic Twins”. This means conjoined or siamese twins where there is one twin fully developed and another that is usually just a head and occasionally a neck or a torso that is underdeveloped, and lives off of the developed twin but is parasitic. The medical definition of Craniopagus Parasiticus is; “Conjoined twins joined at the head (craniopagus) in which a rudimentary head (with little or no body) is attached to the head of the larger and usually more normal twin. The rudimentary head was thought to be parasitic.”. The term “Craniopagus
Parasiticus” comes from the two words Craniopagus meaning the condition of Siamese twins joined at the head, and the word Parasiticus coming from the latin word parasiti meaning parasites.
So why does this condition occur? Well there are two theories, the “Fission ” theory, and the “Lack of Blood” theory. The “Fission” theory states that a single zygote leads to the development of two fetuses but separation fails either during the second or fourth week of gestation. The “Lack of Blood” theory states that the lack of blood supply to the second twin due to the degeneration of the umbilical cord which halts the development of the fetus.
Where are the facts, why do they only have theories about this? There have only been ten documented cases of Craniopagus Parasiticus, and only three of which have survived birth. This is why they only have theories about how it occurs and do not have it down to an exact science yet. Cases; The most known case is Manar Maged, Born February 19, 2005. Her parasitic twin named Islaam was attached to the left side of her head facing forward, she was able to smile, blink, and even suck on a pacifier, but doctors decided that for Manar to be able to live, Islaam would have to be surgically removed, and that Islaam would not be able to live on her own. Manar died a few days before her second birthday due to Pneumonia. Another case is Rebecca Martínez, born December 10, 2003. Her parasitic twin or second head was only partially developed, it had a partially developed brain, ears, eyes and lips. It is said that its mouth would move when Rebecca was breast feeding. Tests showed that there was some activity in the brain but surgery was necessary, because the second head was growing faster than Rebeccas. Rebeca went into surgery on February 6, 2004 (the first surgery of its kind) to try to remove the other head, but died the morning of february 7, 2004 due to complications associated with the sugary. Finally, the case of who they called "Two-Headed Boy of Bengal". being the first case on record he was born in 1783, living approximately four years before dying from a cobra bite in 1787. They still have his skull preserved and at the Hunterian Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons of London.
Have there been cases of Craniopagus Parasiticus in other species than humans? There in fact have been cases in other species than humans. Such as a female baby egyptian water buffalo, born in september of 2005. Just like other cases they tried to save the autosite by surrendering the parasite.
In conclusion Craniopagus is an interesting subject that there is still a lot to be learned about.