Anencephalic fetus with craniospinal rachischisis - Case report

Abstract

Anencephaly is a severe neural tube defect (NTD) caused by failure of closure in the cranial neuropore during fourth week of pregnancy. As a result, major portion of the brain, skull and scalp is absent. Anencephaly may be associated with rachischisis, where defective neural tube closure is extensive and spinal cord is exposed. Overall incidence of anencephaly is one in every 1000 births. It can be easily diagnosed by ultrasonography. Anencephaly newborns are not viable nor treatable and classified as lethal NTDs. Nutritional and environmental factors play a role in production of NTDs. Here we report and discuss a rare case of anencephalic fetus with craniospinal rachischisis of 25 weeks of gestation and their embryological origin.