Abstract
SUMMARY: Craniopagus twins are a rare congenital malformation in which twins are conjoined at the head. Although there is high prenatal and postnatal mortality for craniopagus twins, successful separation has become more common due to advances in neuroimaging, neuroanesthesia, and neurosurgical techniques. Joined brain tissue, shared arteries and veins, and defects in the skull and dura make surgery technically challenging, and neuroimaging plays an important role in preoperative planning. Drawing on our experience from consultation for multiple successful separations of craniopagus twins, we discuss what radiologists need to know about the anatomy, classification, imaging techniques, and surgical management of craniopagus twins.
ABBREVIATIONS:
- CPT
- craniopagus twins
- CVS
- circumferential venous sinus
- SDVS
- shared dural venous sinuses
- TA
- total angular
- TV
- total vertical
Footnotes
Paper previously presented as an educational exhibit at: Annual Meeting of the Radiological Society of North America, November 25–29, 2018; Chicago, Illinois; presentation NR274-ED-X.
Disclosures: James T. Goodrich—UNRELATED: Royalties: Thieme textbook.
- © 2020 by American Journal of Neuroradiology
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