Newborn with meroanencephaly: Surviving all odds

Neural tube defects are a group of congenital anomalies of brain development that carry a significant risk of morbidity and mortality. Anencephaly is a serious form of this defect with a very poor prognosis. It can present in three forms - meroanencephaly, holoanencephaly, and craniorachischisis. Meroanencephaly is considered to be the classic form of anencephaly. It manifests as a lack of cranial vault bones and exposed dorsal neural tissue resulting from defective neural tube closure in the very early period of gestation. Antenatally, the diagnosis may be suggested by ultrasound examination and by elevated maternal alpha-fetoprotein level. Here, we describe a case of meroanencephaly who was discharged from the hospital in fair condition despite the life-threatening anomaly.