What's this disease called?
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Encephalocele is a protrusion of part of the brain through a defect in the skull. The most common site for encephalocele is along the front-to-back midline of the skull, usually at the rear, although frontal encephaloceles are more common among Asians.
Pressure within the skull pushes out cranial tissue. The protective layer over the brain, the meninges, grows to cover the protrusion, as does skin in some cases. Defects in skull closure are thought to cause some cases of encephalocele, while defects in neural tube closure may cause others.
Encephaloceles may be small and contain little or no brain tissue, or may be quite large and contain a significant fraction of the brain
Meningomyelocele( Failure of neural-tube closure below the level of the brain prevents full development of the surrounding vertebral bones and leads to spina bifida, or a divided spinal column. Incomplete closure causes protrusion of the spinal cord and meninges, called meningomyelocele) may be treated with surgery to close the open portion of the spinal cord.
Surgery for encephalocele is possible only if there is a minimal amount of brain tissue protruding. Malformations associated with hydrocephalus (Dandy-Walker, Chiari II, and some cases of hydranencephaly) may be treated by installation of a drainage shunt for cerebrospinal fluid. Drugs may be used to treat some symptoms of brain defects, including seizures and spasticity.
Most congenital brain defects carry a very poor prognosis. Surgical treatment of meningomyelocele and encephalocele may be successful, with lasting neurological deficiencies, that vary in severity. Early treatment of hydrocephalus may prevent more severe brain damage
Some cases of congenital brain defects can be prevented with good maternal nutrition, including folic acid supplements. Folic acid is a vitamin that has been shown to reduce the incidence of neural tube defects. Pregnant women should avoid exposure to infection, especially during the first trimester. Abstention from drugs and alcohol during pregnancy may reduce risk. Genetic counseling is advisable for parents who have had one child with anencephaly (absence of brain) since the likelihood of having another is increased
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Generally, surgery is performed during infancy to place the protruding tissues back into the skull, remove the sac, and correct the associated craniofacial abnormalities. Even large protrusions can often be removed without causing major functional disability. Hydrocephalus( excessive accumulation of CSF in the brain) associated with encephaloceles may require surgical treatment with a shunt. Other treatment is symptomatic and supportive
Spina Bifida?
(edit) Sorry. No, but...anencephaly, a condition in which the portion of the neural tube which will become the cerebrum (front of the brain) does not close, and encephalocele, which results when other parts of the brain remain unfused.
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