A “three-eyed” infant: A case of partial facial duplication (diprosopus monocephalus triophthalmos)

Abstract

Craniofacial duplication known as diprosopus is a rare congenital disorder whereby parts or all of the face are duplicated on the head. This is a case of a 1-year-old boy referred to our hospital with an extra eye (third eye) on the left side of the head and an abnormally shaped head, which were noticed since birth. Pregnancy and delivery were uneventful. Apart from routine antenatal medication, there was no history suggestive of ingestion of traditional or other medication during pregnancy. No history of smoking during pregnancy and no history of exposure to radiation. The child was born in a rural area to a “nonconsanguineous marriage.” Examination revealed posterior plagiocephaly, a depressed anterior fontanelle, and a bulging posterior fontanelle. There was an extra eye (third eye) in the left temporal region. Radiologic findings showed the presence of two normally situated bony orbits and two extra orbits in the left temporal region. Well-formed globes were seen in the normal orbits while only one of the extra orbits contained a globe. The importance of prenatal diagnosis is emphasized.