Open AccessTwo cases of craniospinal rachischisis totalis: Role of magnetic resonance imaging in diagnosis and review of neural tube defects in the Indian context with implications for folate fortification
Author(s) -
Deepasree Jaganmohan,
Prema Subramaniam,
Krishnan Nagarajan,
Preetam Mahajan
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
journal of pediatric neurosciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.247
H-Index - 18
eISSN - 1998-3948
pISSN - 1817-1745
DOI - 10.4103/1817-1745.205632
Subject(s) - anencephaly , neural tube , medicine , context (archaeology) , magnetic resonance imaging , neural tube defect , etiology , gestation , pregnancy , folic acid , radiology , pathology , embryo , paleontology , genetics , biology , microbiology and biotechnology
Craniospinal rachischisis is a rare and severe form of neural tube defects (NTDs), which is always fatal. It is characterized by anencephaly accompanied by a bony defect of the spine and exposure of neural tissue. We describe the two patients with ultrasonographic and magnetic resonance imaging appearance of craniospinal rachischisis totalis, detected antenatally at 22 and 25 weeks of gestation, and confirmed after termination of pregnancy. The multifactorial etiology of NTDs, with specific reference to folate deficiency, is discussed with possible role of folate fortification in the Indian context.