A vanishing twin, also known as twin resorption, is a fetus in a multigestation pregnancy that dies Uterus and is then partially or completely Fetal resorption. In some instances, the dead twin is compressed into a flattened, parchment-like state known as fetus papyraceus.
Vanishing twins occur in up to one of every eight multifetus pregnancies and may not even be known in most cases.
According to Boklage, most twin pregnancies are ultimately born as singles, and vanished twins are a possible source of abnormal cells. In one study, Boklage reported of 325 twin pregnancies, finding that only 61 ended as twins, with 125 ending as singletons; the remainder were lost. He has estimated that for every twin pair born, there are six singletons who survived a twin conception.
In pregnancies achieved by IVF, "it frequently happens that more than one amniotic sac can be seen in early pregnancy, whereas a few weeks later there is only one to be seen and the other has 'vanished.
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