Occipital meningoecephalocele, ultrasound diagnosis

case report

Abstract

Meningoencephalocele is a saclike cyst containing brain tissue, cerebrospinal fluid, and meninges that protrudes through a congenital defect in the skull. It may or may not contain parts of the ventricular system and is commonly associated with brain defects. It is more common in the occipital region and in the midline of the skull. The ultrasound diagnosis shows a cystic or complex mass protruding from the bone defect. The prognostic is straightly related to prenatal and postnatal care, the volume of the contents herniated, if there is cerebral tissue involved and, mainly, if there are other malformations associated, with unfavorable prognosis in the presence of concomitant chromosomal diseases. We report a case of occipital meningoencephalocele diagnosed prenatally with ultrasound, providing specialized care, substantially improving the prenatal care.