Cranial vault defects: the description of three cases that illustrate a spectrum of anomalies

Pediatr Dev Pathol. 2009 Mar-Apr;12(2):96-102. doi: 10.2350/08-02-0415.1. Epub 2008 Apr 28.

Abstract

Three cases of cranial vault defects in fetuses are described. All 3 cases underwent postmortem examination, and in 2 of them postmortem magnetic resonance imaging was also performed. The phenotypical differences between the cases illustrate a spectrum of cranial vault defects, associated anomalies, and pathogenic mechanisms involved in the etiology of this rare malformation. All 3 cases were male, and the cranial vault defects corresponded to exencephaly with acrania/acalvaria caused by amniotic band syndrome, acalvaria, and acrania presenting in a chorangiopagus parasiticus twin.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Abnormalities, Multiple / pathology*
  • Autopsy / methods
  • Craniofacial Abnormalities / pathology*
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Fetus / embryology
  • Fetus / pathology*
  • Gestational Age
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Skull / abnormalities*