Nagpur Man Unknowingly Carries Twin Brother for 36 Years
A man from Nagpur, Maharashtra in India was found with an unusual condition known as Fetus in Fetu, causing him to appear pregnant. Sanju Bhagat, born in 1963, gained the nickname of the "pregnant man" due to his swollen stomach. His bizarre abdominal bump would draw attention within his small community. However, Bhagat remained clueless about the fact that he had been carrying his twin sibling inside him for 36 years.
During his childhood, Bhagat seemed to be in good health despite having a slightly enlarged stomach compared to other children his age. This didn't raise any concerns until he reached his twenties. Although he worked on a farm every day to provide for his family, his bulging belly continued to expand at an alarming rate. Despite his struggles for survival, Bhagat chose to overlook the swelling and carried on with his work. Unfortunately, his friends often teased him, which became a source of worry for his family as well.
In 1999, the swelling in his abdomen pressed against his diaphragm, causing breathing difficulties. Bhagat was promptly rushed to a hospital in Mumbai, where Dr Ajay Mehta was assigned to his case. Initially, Dr Mehta suspected that Bhagat was suffering from a tumour upon observing the bulge. However, during the surgery, the doctors were surprised to discover not a massive tumour, but another human being inside Bhagat. Recounting the experience in an interview, Dr Mehta said, "He just put his hand inside and he said there are a lot of bones inside."
The doctors uncovered limbs, partial genitalia, hair, jaws, and other appendages within Bhagat's body. "We were horrified. We were confused and amazed... To my surprise and horror, I could shake hands with somebody inside. It was a bit shocking for me," added Dr Mehta.
Initially, the stunned doctors believed that Bhagat's case exemplified "vanishing twin syndrome," wherein one twin dies during pregnancy and gets reabsorbed by the surviving twin. However, further examination and study revealed that it was a case of a "fetus in fetu."
In this condition, the unborn twin survives as a parasitic entity within its sibling's body. Typically, the host twin becomes aware of the abnormality much earlier than Bhagat did.
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