In a highly unusual medical case in Rahim Yar Khan, doctors at Sheikh Zayed Hospital successfully removed a malformed foetus from the chest of a five-year-old boy, in one of the rarest congenital anomalies known to medicine. The operation has drawn attention across Pakistan and sparked global interest because of its complexity and medical significance.
The young patient, named Rehan, had suffered from persistent breathing difficulties, chest infections, coughing, and recurrent fevers since infancy. Despite multiple visits to doctors over the years, his condition remained undiagnosed until a recent CT scan revealed the shocking cause: an underdeveloped twin inside his chest.
Surgeons discovered that the malformed foetus was located near the boy’s main heart artery and lungs, making the surgery extremely delicate and risky. The condition, medically referred to as “fetus in fetu” (FIF), occurs when a malformed twin becomes embedded in the body of its sibling during early embryonic development. Worldwide, this condition is exceptionally rare, with an estimated occurrence of one in every 500,000 births.
Leading the surgical team was thoracic surgeon Dr Sultan Mahmood Owaisi, who said the operation required meticulous planning and execution. Officials described the procedure as complex but successful, with the foetus removed without injuring the boy’s vital organs. The child is now recovering in the hospital’s thoracic ward and is reported to be in stable condition under close medical supervision.
According to Dr Sultan, the foetus had developed several body parts including a spine, hair, and teeth but it lacked a fully formed head. It weighed about one kilogramme and was hidden inside the chest for five years, undetected until advanced imaging uncovered its presence.
Fetus in fetu is often confused with teratomas — complex tumours containing abnormal tissues — but FIF is distinguished by a greater degree of organized development, such as vertebral structures and organ formation. Medical literature shows most FIF cases are found in the abdominal cavity, which makes Rehan’s chest case even more rare and medically noteworthy.
Rehan’s mother expressed immense relief and gratitude to the medical team for saving her son, crediting the hospital for its care and expertise. Doctors emphasised that early diagnosis and imaging are crucial for similar unexplained symptoms in children.
This extraordinary case highlights not just a medical curiosity but also advances in diagnostic imaging and surgical techniques in Pakistan that make handling such rare anomalies possible.
