Craniorachischisis totalis

Suyash Yashwant Ambatkar, Megha Dipak Rudey

PAMJ. 2023; 44:24. Published 12 Jan 2023 | doi:10.11604/pamj.2023.44.24.35962

Chraniorachischisis totalis is a lethal, non-syndromic anomaly. This anomaly is a rare condition seen in neural tube defects, characterized by anencephaly (absence of brain and cranial vault and lack of skin covering), and bony defect of the cervical spine (without covering of meninges on neural tissue). The prevalence of Chraiorachischisis in Europe is 0.1 to 10.7 per 10000 live births. Many of the fetuses are born either stillborn or result in termination of pregnancy if diagnosed prenatally. A study on non-genetic risk factors in Chraniorachischisis totalis is hard-hitting because of its rarity. A recent chromosomal study showed mutation of the SCRIB and CELSR1 genes leads to Chraniorachischisis totalis. Adequate supplementation of folic acid before conceiving and in the antenatal period can lead to uppermost hand for the prevention of Chraniorachischisis up to 75%. Antenatal diagnosis and termination of pregnancy are the main reasons that have helped Chraniorachischisis become uncommon. We report a clinical image of the male fetus with Chraniorachischisis totalis. The gestational age of the fetus was 14 weeks, with the crown to Rumph length of 120 millimetres. This fetus has spina bifida without a brain and covering of meninges, followed by spontaneous abortion in the institutional hospital of Maharashtra state in Central India. The obstetric history was not available. This condition is not compatible with life so the fetus undergoes spontaneous abortion in the initial few weeks of gestation itself.
Corresponding author
Megha Dipak Rudey, Department of Kaumarbhritya, Mahatma Gandhi Ayurveda College, Hospital and Research Centre, Salod (H), Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences (DU), Sawangi, Wardha, India (130693.sa@gmail.com)


The Pan African Medical Journal (ISSN: 1937-8688) is a subsidiary of the Pan African Medical Journal. The contents of this journal is intended exclusively for professionals in the medical, paramedical and public health and other health sectors.

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