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Human diprosopus: Case report of a rare congenital abnormality.

Maria Teresa Vasconcelos de Melo PontesRaiane Machado MaiaLuís Cândido Pinto da SilvaFlávio Ricardo ManziIzabella Lucas de Abreu Lima
Published in: Special care in dentistry : official publication of the American Association of Hospital Dentists, the Academy of Dentistry for the Handicapped, and the American Society for Geriatric Dentistry (2024)
Diprosopus is a congenital anomaly in which partial or complete duplication of craniofacial structures occurs. Because it is rare, the mortality rate is high, and information concerning this anomaly is scarce. This study describes a case of human diprosopus in a 9-year-old male individual, who has severe complications associated with the central nervous, cardiovascular, respiratory, and digestive systems. Since birth, he has been monitored in a specialized hospital environment, where he has undergone several surgeries and multidisciplinary treatments. Regarding the craniofacial aspects, he had agenesis of the corpus callosum, floor of the nasal cavity, and floor of the anterior cranial fossa, in addition to the presence of bone dysplasia, ocular hypertelorism and cleft palate with nasal and oral teratoma. Regarding dental characteristics, the patient has duplication of the maxilla, mandible, tongue, and some teeth. After complementary imaging exams, several supernumerary teeth were found, with some being impacted and in complex regions, with an indication for extraction due to the risks of impaction, irruptive deviation, root resorption, and associated cystic or tumoral lesions. Because of the numerous complications, knowledge, and preparation of the entire team is necessary for the correct management of the case.
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