Can encephalocele be misdiagnosed?
This case highlights the uncommon site of anterior encephalocele; misdiagnosis and mismanagement of which could result in dreaded complications such as meningitis and cerebrospinal fluid leaking fistula formation.
Can you see encephalocele on ultrasound?
Prenatal diagnosis of encephalocele is accomplished by maternal screening of serum α-fetoprotein levels and ultrasound (US). With two-dimensional ultrasound (2D US), encephalocele appears as a defect in the calvarium containing a cystic or solid mass with a gyral pattern that is contiguous with the brain [2].
How is encephalocele diagnosed?
Most encephaloceles are diagnosed on a routine prenatal ultrasound or seen right away when a baby is born. In some cases, small encephaloceles may initially go unnoticed. These encephaloceles are usually located near the baby’s nose or forehead.
Is encephalocele compatible with life?
Fetuses with an encephalocele are likely to die before birth. Approximately 21 percent, or 1 in 5, are born alive. Of those born alive, only 50 percent will survive.
Is encephalocele curable?
Treatment. Encephalocele is treated with surgery to place the protruding part of the brain and the membranes covering it back into the skull and close the opening in the skull. However, neurologic problems caused by the encephalocele will still be present. Long-term treatment depends on the child’s condition.
What is nasal encephalocele?
Nasal Encephalocele – About An encephalocele is a rare birth defect. It occurs when a developing baby’s skull does not close completely. As a result, part of the baby’s brain may extend through the hole in the skull.
How common is encephalocele in adults?
Introduction. Basal encephalocele is rare in adults. Congenital and acquired cases have been reported with regard to the developmental mechanism, and the pathology has not been elucidated in detail.
Is encephalocele life threatening?
When the neural tube does not close, it can cause a sac-like bulge with brain tissue and spinal fluid that pokes through the skull. An encephalocele can be life-threatening.
Is encephalocele genetic?
Encephaloceles are usually dramatic deformities diagnosed immediately after birth; but occasionally a small encephalocele in the nasal and forehead region can go undetected. There is a genetic component to the condition; it often occurs in families with a history of spina bifida and anencephaly in other family members.
What is an occipital encephalocele?
Occipital encephalocele (OE) are the most common form of this congenital disorder and are manifested as a swelling of different sizes over the occipital bone in the midline. Proper diagnosis and treatment is highly important in the management of this congenital malformation of brain.