Craniopagus
Historical document, translated for reference. It reflects medical knowledge of the 1920s–30s and is not medical advice.
Summary
Craniopagus is a rare form of double malformation where the skulls of two fetuses are fused together, either symmetrically or asymmetrically. The brains of the fetuses remain separate, and viability is extremely low.
Encyclopedia entry (1928–1936)
CRANIOPAGUS (from the Greek cranion meaning skull and pegnumi meaning to join firmly), synonym cephalopagus, a variety of double malformation consisting in the fusion of the skulls of two fetuses; such fusion may be symmetrical, for example in the occipital or frontal regions (Craniopagus occipitalis, frontalis), or asymmetric, for example when the forehead of one fetus fuses with the parietal region of the other fetus (Craniopagus frontoparietalis). The brains of such fetuses are separate. Viability is negligible. Only isolated cases of survival for up to 10 years have been described. - See also Malformations.
Related articles
Mentioned in
Cite this page
“Craniopagus.” Soviet Medical Encyclopedia. English translation of Bolshaya Meditsinskaya Entsiklopediya, 1st ed. (Moscow, 1928–1936), ed. N. A. Semashko. https://sovietmedicalencyclopedia.pages.dev/article/craniopagus/