Cardiovascular anomalies of cephalothoracopagus synotus. A case report and review of the literature of 23 Japanese autopsied cases

A case of cephalothoracopagus female twins is reported, and the anatomical and pathologic features are described in detail. The central nervous systems were completely double. However, there were three eyeballs, two on the well-formed face and one in the cranial base, forming a saddle-shaped ridge of orbital plates. The latter was supplied by optic nerves of both individuals. On the other hand, there was a single esophagus, stomach and duodenum, but the intestine was shared equally at the jejunum by the two individuals. The larynges, tracheae, lungs, hearts, livers, pancreases, spleens and urogenital organs were also duplicated. Previously unreported abnormalities of the hearts are described, and a comparison with similar autopsy cases reported previously in Japan is given.