Craniopagus twins

Abstract

SYNOPSIS Craniopagus twins are described. At the age of 24 years, the twins appeared to have adapted well to their disability. The site of union, their relatively advanced age, and the high risk of operation were the reasons for not proposing surgical separation. Perceptive upbringing and adaptation to the disability may be alternatives to the neurosurgical management of this birth defect.

Evolution of the Human Nervous System Function, Structure, and Development

“…Moreover, humans affected by either congenital or acquired conditions where portions of the brain are severely underdeveloped or missing can have normal or near-normal intelligence and cognitive skills, with examples including some severe forms of microcephaly (Haslam and Smith, 1979; Kozma et al, 1996); childhood hemispherectomy (i.e., disconnection or removal of an entire cerebral hemisphere; Borgstein and Grootendorst, 2002; Devlin et al, 2003; Liégeois et al, 2010; Pulsifer et al, 2004); a patient born with only one hemisphere (Muckli et al, 2009); craniopagus malformation (Lansdell, 1999; Stone and Goodrich, 2006; Todorov et al, 1974), including a pair of craniopagus twins that share a brain and mind (Squair, 2012); individuals with almost complete absence of the cerebellum (Glickstein, 1994; Yu et al, 2015); and a case of severe hydrocephaly (Feuillet et al, 2007). Nevertheless, how a simple change in brain size or neuron and/or glia number could lead to differences in cognitive capabilities is not, at a mechanistic level, well understood.…”

Anencephalus, Spina Bifida, twins, and teratoma.

“…The study of Todorov et al (1974) of 14 examples of crainiopagus emphasizes the low male: female sex ratio (3: 11) that would be expected from their formation in this way.…”

Craniopagus twins: surgical anatomy and embryology and their implications.

“…Detailed reports of the condition of such surviving twins are rarely published. A recent one (Todorov et al, 1974) described 24 year old craniopagus twins (type I). These showed gross intellectual retardation and education was virtually impossible.…”