Janiceps Conjoined Twins with Extreme Asymmetry: Case Report with Complete Autopsy and Histopathologic Findings

Abstract

Conjoined twinning is a rare form of twinning, in which 2 bodies are attached, and is classified according to the anatomic place of attachment. An extremely rare form of conjoined twinning is janiceps conjoined twinning, in which 2 faces are attached but oriented in opposite directions. In this report, we present an unusual and difficult-to-classify case of conjoined male twins with partial duplication of craniofacial, upper oropharyngeal, and cardiac organs. We believe this to be one of the few reported cases of janiceps asymmetrus. We describe in detail the gross and microscopic pathology and offer some insights into the possible embryogenesis and distinction from the other rare form of conjoined twinning with facial duplication, diprosopus.