Discordant phenotypic outcomes in monozygotic twins conceived via IVF: A case report involving Hirschsprung's disease, tricuspid and pulmonary atresia, and orofacial clefts without detectable genetic mutation.
Sonia Gayete-Lafuente, Umar Mian, Elizabeth Choong, David H Barad, Norbert Gleicher
Abstract
Open AccessThis report concerns the incidental finding of discordant congenital anomalies in twins diagnosed as monozygotic in a private, academically-affiliated fertility center in the United States. A 40-year-old woman conceived monozygotic dichorionic twins via in vitro fertilization (IVF). One twin presented with multiple congenital anomalies, including tricuspid and pulmonary atresia, cleft lip/palate, Hirschsprung's disease, facial skin tags, and a benign ocular tumor, while the other twin presented none of those abnormalities and appeared entirely healthy. Genetic testing, including amniocentesis and whole-exome sequencing, confirmed no identifiable mutations. This case emphasizes the potential role of postzygotic mosaicism, epigenetic dysregulation, and/or environmental disruption of neural crest-derived development, highlighting the complexity of embryologic development.