Thank you for updating your details. Log In. Sign Up. Become a Gold Supporter and see no ads. Log in Sign up. Articles Cases Courses Quiz. About Recent Edits Go ad-free. Edit article. View revision history Report problem with Article. Citation, DOI and article data. Gaillard, F. Reference article, Radiopaedia. Obstetrics , Central Nervous System. URL of Article. The neural tube normally develops into the brain and spinal cord. Read more on NSW Health website. Neural tube defects are brain and spinal cord abnormalities, including spina bifida, encephalocele and anencephaly.
Read how they affect children. Read more on raisingchildren. Find out more about folic acid, folate and neural tube defects here. Read more on Sydney Children's Hospitals Network website.
Major effects of spina bifida Paralysis of the legs There may be complete paraplegia, or partial or minor paralysis depending on the level of the spinal injury. Read more on Novita Services website. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby is not responsible for the content and advertising on the external website you are now entering. Video call. This information is for your general information and use only and is not intended to be used as medical advice and should not be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any medical condition, nor should it be used for therapeutic purposes.
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Epidemiology of neural tube defects. Cephaloceles and related malformations. Learn More. Anencephaly is a condition in which major portions of the brain, skull, and scalp are absent.
It is the most severe and single most common prenatally detected spinal cord neural tube defect Goldstein and Filly, Although the upper portions of the brain the cerebral hemispheres can develop in this condition, any exposed brain tissue is eventually destroyed. As a result, the brain will appear as a bloody hemorrhagic mass of tissue fibers. The brainstem and cerebellum may be spared. The brainstem controls many of the functions that happen automatically such as maintenance of heart rate, breathing, body temperature control, etc.
The cerebellum is primarily responsible for balance and our innate sense of the space that our body occupies. Despite the severe brain abnormalities, the facial bones and base of the skull are nearly normally formed. The front portion of the skull frontal bone , however, is always absent and the brain tissue is always abnormal.
Less commonly, there is a mild form in which a small portion of skull is missing meroacrania. The most severe form is when the brain is completely absent holoacrania.
Frequency Anencephaly accounts for approximately one-half of all cases of spinal cord neural tube defects Chescheir et al. Diagnosis In first trimester fetuses with anencephaly, the upper portion of the brain the cerebral hemispheres will be in direct contact with the amniotic fluid because the skull is absent. Management Options and Outcomes Of those fetuses with anencephaly, a small portion will die while still in the uterus intrauterine fetal demise or stillbirth.
Candidacy for Fetal Treatment There is no fetal intervention recommended for anencephaly. Newborn Care The diagnosis of anencephaly can be confirmed on physical examination when the following criteria are met: a large portion of the skull is absent, the scalp is absent over the skull defect, and a hemorrhagic, fibrotic mass of tissue is exposed to the environment.
Surgical Management Surgical treatment is not applicable in anencephaly. Additional Information The major issue in long-term outcome is the potential use of anencephalic fetuses or infants as organ donors. Further reading and resources: Read the story of our board member, Aran, meeting her daughter, Brianna Marie. Medical Task Force on Anencephaly. The infant with anencephaly. N Engl J Med. Get In Touch. Filter List:. Within 10 miles 25 miles 50 miles miles miles miles.
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