What are complications seen in encephalocele?
What are complications seen in encephalocele?
The most commonly associated abnormalities and symptoms of survivors include:
- Hydrocephalus (abnormal accumulation of fluid in the brain)
- Spastic quadriplegia (paralysis of the arms and legs)
- Microcephaly (smaller than average head size)
- Ataxia (poor coordination and unsteadiness)
- Developmental delays.
- Vision problems.
What causes occipital encephalocele?
Encephalocele happens when the neural tube does not close completely during pregnancy. The result is an opening anywhere along the center of the skull from the nose to the back of the neck, but most often at the back of the head (pictured), at the top of the head, or between the forehead and the nose.
How is encephalocele diagnosed?
An encephalocele may appear as a cyst on an ultrasound examination. If an encephalocele is diagnosed prenatally, further tests may be recommended to detect whether additional anomalies are present. Such tests can include a prenatal magnetic resonance imaging (fetal MRI).
What is 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.
Is encephalocele compatible with life?
Some very large encephaloceles may be incompatible with life, and affected babies may not survive the pregnancy. For babies with a smaller anterior encephalocele, there’s less likelihood that brain tissue will protrude into the sac. In these cases, surgery – performed by a neurosurgeon – can have a good outcome.
When can encephalocele be detected?
Usually encephaloceles are visible deformities and are diagnosed immediately after birth. Occasionally, a small encephalocele in the nasal or forehead region can go undetected. Sometimes encephaloceles are detected during a routine prenatal ultrasound, at as early as 13 weeks’ gestation.
Is encephalocele hereditary?
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.
When to use MR imaging to diagnose encephalocele?
If the mass appears cystic, the meningocele component predominates, while a solid mass indicates predominantly an encephalocele. Larger encephaloceles may show accompanying microcephaly. MR imaging is the best imaging modality for defining the contents of an encephalocele prior to surgery.
How does an antenatal ultrasound show an encephalocele?
Antenatal ultrasound An encephalocele may be seen as a purely cystic mass or may contain echoes from herniated brain tissue. If the mass appears cystic, the meningocele component predominates, while a solid mass indicates predominantly an encephalocele. Larger encephaloceles may show accompanying microcephaly.
What are the two types of intrasphenoidal encephaloceles?
Intrasphenoidal encephaloceles are divided into medial perisellar and lateral sphenoid recess encephaloceles 2 lateral sphenoid encephaloceles are rare and are usually associated with lateral pneumatization of the sphenoid sinus into the pterygoid recesses
Can a small temporal encephalocele cause refractory epilepsy?
Small temporal encephaloceles are increasingly recognized as causes of refractory epilepsy in some individuals 10 and are also encountered as asymptomatic sequelae of idiopathic intracranial hypertension.
If the mass appears cystic, the meningocele component predominates, while a solid mass indicates predominantly an encephalocele. Larger encephaloceles may show accompanying microcephaly. MR imaging is the best imaging modality for defining the contents of an encephalocele prior to surgery.
Antenatal ultrasound An encephalocele may be seen as a purely cystic mass or may contain echoes from herniated brain tissue. If the mass appears cystic, the meningocele component predominates, while a solid mass indicates predominantly an encephalocele. Larger encephaloceles may show accompanying microcephaly.
Intrasphenoidal encephaloceles are divided into medial perisellar and lateral sphenoid recess encephaloceles 2 lateral sphenoid encephaloceles are rare and are usually associated with lateral pneumatization of the sphenoid sinus into the pterygoid recesses
Small temporal encephaloceles are increasingly recognized as causes of refractory epilepsy in some individuals 10 and are also encountered as asymptomatic sequelae of idiopathic intracranial hypertension.