Chapter 2624: 2525.2430 Heard of it, never seen

2525.2430 Heard of it, never seen.

Men, pregnancy, this statement is similar to the various gossip news published on those tabloids sold at train stations in the past.

Lin Yuan definitely never read this nutritionally worthless gossip tabloid, and even the somewhat older Zheng Renhe and Su Yun never read it. It was a product of the early reform and opening-up era, even older than the age of street literature by several years.

Gao Shaojie knew this, but he didn't think in that direction; instead, he focused on examining the image data.

On the earliest image, the abdominal mass measured 10×12×6cm in size, showing fatty density areas and soft tissue shadows inside.

There were also other images, for example, a piece Gao Shaojie thought was a rib, and another piece he thought was a lower leg.

The liver could be vaguely seen, but there was no heart.

If Gao Shaojie were to diagnose based on only one image, he would think it was a teratoma. Although it differs somewhat from a standard teratoma, he does not believe there is any other possible diagnosis.

But when the two images were compared, the problem became apparent.

The most recent image showed the mass measuring 28×25×18cm, with its extent ranging from the lower edge of the liver in the upper abdomen down into the pelvic cavity.

Inside the mass were fatty density areas and soft tissue, plus calcified tissue of various sizes and shapes resembling vertebrae, ribs, and long bones.

Compared to the earlier image, these tissues have been continuously growing rather than stopping. No wonder Su Yun and Feng Jianguo thought it was……pregnancy.

As time passed, the mass grew larger and larger, beginning to compress surrounding organs. The patient had partial dilation of the intestinal tubes, and intestinal peristalsis showed impairment. In other words, the patient's most recent hospital visit was due to an incomplete intestinal obstruction.

"Hmm, saying it's a pregnancy isn't wrong." Zheng Ren held his shoulders while looking at the images, speaking in a low voice: "It's a typical parasitic fetus; let's prepare for surgery."

"I told you so!" Feng Jianguo clenched his left fist and struck it against his right hand, producing a muffled "pa" sound.

"Brother Feng, you surely haven't seen one before, have you?" Su Yun asked.

"Yeah, I've heard of it but never seen one. This is the first time I've seen imaging data of a parasitic fetus; before, I only saw it in books." Feng Jianguo had no embarrassment and frankly admitted it.

"I haven't seen one either. Boss, have you seen one?"

"No, the odds are one in five hundred thousand, so it's not that easy to encounter. Based on probability and condition, the Women and Children's Hospital should see more cases." Zheng Ren said: "Usually, after a child is born, something is found to be off—either constant fever or…"

"I've seen a photo of a child who grew three legs; the final diagnosis was a parasitic fetus, and surgery was performed at five months of age." Su Yun said.

"Being able to coexist for 24 years is truly not easy." Zheng Ren said: "One can see that the parasitic fetus has abdominal organs, but lacks a brain and heart; keeping it serves no purpose."

Feng Jianguo said: "Boss Zheng, should I admit the patient?"

"Hmm?" Zheng Ren glanced at Feng Jianguo.

"I've never done it before; please let me watch you do it once." Feng Jianguo said with a cheerful laugh.

"I've never done it either…" Zheng Ren said helplessly. However, he did not oppose Feng Jianguo's suggestion; when faced with a case of one in several hundred thousand odds, claiming not wanting to perform surgery would be false.

This, accumulated over time, becomes rich clinical experience.

The fetus of the parasitic fetus is still growing; presumably there is a blood supply connection." Feng Jianguo said: "I don't dare to cut into it."

"Just dissect it, find the blood vessel and ligate it—Feng Brother, you're saying that too falsely."

"The key is…" Feng Jianguo forced a smile and said: "Isn't it just that I'm a bit scared to go up there? Even bringing Xiao Cao along, I'm afraid she'll be frightened into fainting."

"Science, science!" Su Yun emphasized science while asking: "What's there to be afraid of?"

"I know this patient's mother; she was my elementary school classmate. When she was pregnant that year, I was still in school, and she told me she ran into a fortune‑teller who said she was carrying twins, specifically a boy‑girl pair."

"Later she gave birth to only one child, never expecting this to come true here."

"Ha, there really are such fortune‑tellers?" Su Yun laughed and said: "Don't believe that stuff—those who ask for your birth‑date and characters right away usually have some basis, but to come out and say you're pregnant with twins right off the bat is just nonsense."

"Heh." Feng Jianguo gave a dry laugh, not knowing what he himself was afraid of.

Perhaps it's a man's pregnancy? Or perhaps it's that parasitic fetus that has been growing inside the body for 24 years?

Zheng Ren suddenly thought of Master Song; if we follow logic, the parasitic fetus is more like a demon fetus.

"Alright." Zheng Ren ended the conversation: "Brother Feng, admit the patient, get the preoperative preparations ready on your side, find a time and just do the surgery."

"Brother Feng, we have to do TIPS this morning; this can't be delayed. Have a bite at noon, then what about this afternoon?" Su Yun immediately added.

"No problem."

Zheng Ren then carefully examined the other image data and the blood test results from the local hospital, confirmed everything was correct, gathered the materials, and handed them to Feng Jianguo.

"Boss Zheng, I'm heading out now." Feng Jianguo said.

After he left, Lin Yuan finally sighed: "I saw abdominal organs; could it be that the parasitic fetus's organs actually have function?"

"What's there to make a big fuss about?" Su Yun said contemptuously: "Generally speaking, a parasitic fetus is a rare disease formed from abnormal development of a monochorionic diamniotic twin pregnancy. Within the membrane is an irregularly shaped mass resembling a fetus; careful examination can distinguish the rudiments of head, body, and limbs, with digit‑like structures at the extremities."

"Simply put, it's a malformed twin." Zheng Ren said: "If put bluntly, it's that the dominant individual has absorbed almost all the nutrients, leaving the other struggling to grow."

"Boss, your explanation isn't rigorous." Su Yun said.

"Just say it briefly: under the microscope, the parasitic fetus is enclosed in a fibrous sac covered by a single layer of epithelium or squamous epithelium, showing mature components such as bone, intestinal tissue, brain tissue, fat tissue, and respiratory epithelium."

"Just now, I saw a head, but it was empty inside." Lin Yuan thought, also seeming a little afraid.

Especially since the dominant individual absorbs the vast majority of nutrients in the mother's body, this explanation feels even more eerie and strange.

"This patient's parasitic fetus lacks brain tissue, but a developed uterine shadow can be seen." Zheng Ren said: "If it had developed normally, it should have been a boy‑girl twin. Unfortunately, the sister failed to develop a heart and brain…"

"Boss, have you heard of the kind where everything develops fully?" Su Yun suddenly asked.

This matter shouldn't be dwelt on; the more you think about it, the gloomier it becomes. If everything were fully developed, with one twin inside the other's abdominal cavity, what would that be like?

Breaking out of the cocoon or…

Lin Yuan shuddered, looking out the window; the sky was somewhat overcast, making her even more afraid.