Prenatal diagnosis of parietal encephalocele: a case report

Objective

Most NTDs occur sporadically and are multifactorial in origin. Encephalocele involves defective closure of the anterior neural tube. Encephalocele is characterized as a protrusion of the brain and/or meninges through a defect in the skull that is covered with skin.

Case 

In this case report, we aimed to present a case of parietal encephalocele which diagnosed in prenatal period. 26 year-old patient, having second pregnancy.she had single alive fetus of 18 weeks from her last menstrual period. In the results obtained from two-dimensional ultrasound scan, it was detected that the fetus had encephalocele sac with the approximate sizes of 49*41 mm (Figure 1), possibly originating from the right parietal region of the fetus, and concomitant hydrocephalus (lateral ventricle 10 mm).After abortion, it was observed that the ex-fetus weighing about 300 grams had parietal encephalocele mass having apparent neural tissue in it and stretching from the location over the ear on the right side of the head, comprising the right eye, to the border between mouth and nose (Figures 2 and 3).

Conclusion

Amongst NTD's, the incidence of encephalocele is reported to be approximately 1- 4 per 10,000 live births. Commonest site of encephalocele is occipital, frontoethmoidal and parietal. Prenatal 2D US detects approximately 80% of encephaloceles. The prognosis for patients with encephalocele depends on the extent of herniated neural tissue in the sac and on the presence of associated anomalies. the prognosis of the parietal encephalocele is worse than occipital.

Keywords

Prenatal diagnosis, Parietal, Encephalocele

	File/Dsecription
	Figure 1 The sizes of the encephalocele mass herniated from the defect in transabdominal USG.(41*49 mm)