Thoracoomphalopagus conjoined twins: preoperative evaluation by scintigraphy.

Preoperative evaluation of intrathoracic and intraabdominal organs is very important before surgical separation of thoracoomphalopagus conjoined twins. Hepatic fusion is one of the major obstacles to surgical separation. We evaluated such a case and found noninvasive scintigraphic procedures to be of value. Preoperative evaluation of thoracoomphalopagus conjoined twins was performed after sequential intravenous injection of technetium-99m P-iso-propylacetanilidoiminodiacetic acid (/sup 99m/Tc-PIPIDA) in each of the twins on the first day and technetium-99m sulfur colloid (/sup 99m/Tc sulfur colloid) on the second day. These procedures provided useful information concerning internal organs, especially the spleens and livers, and in particular the status of cross-circulation between the livers.