Aplasia cutis congénita con encefalocele: a propósito de un caso clínico / Congenital aplasia cutis with encephalocele: clinical case study / Aplasia cútis congénita com encefalocele: relato de caso

La aplasia cutis es una rara alteración congénita caracterizada por la ausencia de piel, pudiendo llegar a estructuras más profundas: músculo, hueso y duramadre, como en el presente caso. Se localiza más frecuentemente en el cuero cabelludo, donde se asocia a un defecto óseo en el 20% de los casos. Recién nacido de sexo femenino, término, adecuado para la edad gestacional, vigoroso. Con diagnóstico prenatal a las 36 semanas de edad gestacional de encefalocele. Constatándose al nacimiento microcefalia, hipoplasia ósea y cutánea, encefalocele en línea media de cráneo. Se realizó manejo por equipo multidisciplinario, se practicaron varias intervenciones quirúrgicas, con buena evolución.

Aplasia Cutis is a rare congenital condition, defined by the absence of skin in a particular body region, it can also compromise muscle, bone and dura mater as shown in this case. It is mostly located on the scalp, where it is associated with a bone defect in 20% of cases. We will discuss the case of a female newborn, term gestation, vigorous at birth, with prenatal diagnosis of encephalocele at 36 weeks of gestational age. We observed microcephaly, bone and skin hypoplasia, encephalocele in the midline of the skull at birth. Several surgical interventions were carried out and the follow-up was made by a multidisciplinary team, with good evolution.

A Aplasia Cútis é uma alteração congênita rara, caracterizada pela ausência de pele, podendo atingir estruturas mais profundas: muscular, óssea e dura-máter, como neste caso. Localiza-se mais frequentemente no couro cabeludo, onde está associada a um defeito ósseo em 20% dos casos. É apresentado caso de recém-nascida do sexo feminino, a termo, adequada para idade gestacional, vigorosa. Com diagnóstico pré-natal às 36 semanas de idade gestacional de Encefalocele. Microcefalia, hipoplasia óssea e cutânea e encefalocele na linha média do crânio foram confirmadas ao nascimento. O manejo foi realizado por equipe multidisciplinar, diversas intervenções cirúrgicas, com boa evolução.

Holoprosencephaly, orofacial cleft, and frontonaso-orbital encephaloceles: Genetic evaluation of a possible new syndrome.

Here we report on a Brazilian child who presented semilobar holoprosencephaly, frontonasal encephaloceles and bilateral cleft lip and palate. Malformations also included agenesis of the corpus callosum, abnormal cortical gyres, dilation of the aqueduct, bilateral endolymphatic sac, bilateral cystic cocci-vestibular malformation, and a cribriform defect. The 3D TC craniofacial images showed abnormal frontonasal transition region, with a bone bifurcation, and partial agenesis of nasal bone. The trunk and upper and lower limbs were normal. To our knowledge, this rare association of holoprocensephaly with frontonaso-orbital encephaloceles without limb anomalies has never been reported before. Karyotype was normal. SNP-array showed no copy-number alterations but revealed 25% of regions of homozygosity (ROH) with normal copy number, indicating a high coefficient of inbreeding, which significantly increases the risk for an autosomal recessive disorder. Whole exome sequencing analysis did not reveal any pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants. We discuss the possible influence of two variants of uncertain significance found within the patient's ROHs. First, a missense p.(Gly394Ser) in PCSK9, a gene involved in the regulation of plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Second, an inframe duplication p.(Ala75_Ala81dup) in SP8, a zinc-finger transcription factor that regulates signaling centers during craniofacial development. Further studies and/or the identification of other patients with a similar phenotype will help elucidate the genetic etiology of this complex case.

[Prenatal diagnosis of Meckel-Gruber syndrome. Case report and literature review]. / Diagnóstico prenatal de síndrome de Meckel-Gruber. Reporte de un caso y revisión de la bibliografía.

BACKGROUND: Meckel-Gruber syndrome is a ciliopathy, a lethal autosomal recessive disorder that occurs in all races and ethnicities; it is characterized by central nervous system abnormalities, resulting in mental retardation, bilateral renal cystic dysplasia and malformations of hands and feet. To date there have been only about 200 cases reported worldwide. It is a disease with a recurrence rate of 25% whose most reliable method for diagnosis is prenatal ultrasound. The mortality rate is 100% and in view of the high index of recurrence, subsequent pregnancies should be investigated appropriately with genetic counseling. CLINIC CASE: We present the case of a 15 years-old mother with 30.2 weeks pregnancy resulting from rape by consanguinity (grandfather), without prenatal care. On admission HD ultrasound study is performed finding fetus fetometria average 26.2 weeks (for discordant fetometria head circumference 187.5 mm to 21.0 weeks gestation -3DE-) lost in the skull shape of the shell line is observed winding mean; not cut down, cavum septum pellucidum or herniated sac cerebellum and occipital level (encephalocele) are evident. It starts cervical ripening with prostaglandins for 24 hours to conduct further labor with oxytocic and delivery care where a fetus death, female, 1516 g is obtained. Fetal autopsy family is authorized; however, it not has done because it is legal and only medical geneticist obtains medical case assessment. CONCLUSIONS: The Meckel-Gruber syndrome is a very rare condition that occurs in cases of consanguinity occasions. Mortality occurs in 100% of cases, so you should talk to parents and explain the best maternal prognosis, with abortion in the early stages and subsequent genetic counseling.

Primary Occipital Encephalocele in an Elderly Patient.

The encephalocele is a condition characterized by the protrusion of the intracranial contents through a bone defect of the skull. The authors report a clinical case of an 80-year-old woman with primary occipital encephalocele on the right side and that was affected by trauma and presented liquor fistula and infection. Tomographic sections were obtained by injection intravenous of contrast. The images showed bone thickness thinning on the right occipital region and solution of continuity (encephalocele) with regular contours, reduction in brain volume, and hypodensity of the periventricular white substance were observed. The patient was successfully operated.

Caracterização da população de recém-nascidos com diagnóstico de encefalocele / Characterization of the population of newborns diagnosed with encephalocele

Objetivo: Descrever uma população de recém-nascidos com encefalocele. Método: Estudo restrospectivo, descritivo e analítico por análise dos prontuários de recém-nascidos com diagnóstico de encefalocele, no Hospital da Mulher Prof. Dr. José Aristodemo Pinotti - Centro de Atenção Integral à Saúde da Mulher (CAISM), da Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Foram incluídos todos os pacientes nascidos com diagnóstico de encefalocele no período de janeiro/1997 a julho/2008. Foram estudados: idade materna, paridade, pré-natal, apresentação fetal, tipo de parto, sexo, idade gestacional, índice de Apgar, peso, tipo de encefalocele, tratamento cirúrgico, ocorrência de óbitos, período de internação e retardo do desenvolvimento neuropsicomotor (RDNPM). Foram calculadas as frequências para cada variável analisada e a associação entre algumas variáveis foi verificada estatisticamente pelos testes qui-quadrado e exato de Fisher, considerando alfa de 5%. Resultados: Foram analisados 43 casos com prevalência de 1,24/1000 nascimentos. A faixa de idade materna de maior ocorrência foi 18 a 32 anos (83%), em mães não primigestas (65%), que fizeram os exames pré-natais (95%). A apresentação fetal mais recorrente foi cefálica (45%) com parto cesáreo (65%). Foram encontrados mais casos em meninas, com idade gestacional _37 semanas, tendo a maioria das crianças com a malformação nascido a termo (79%). No primeiro minuto houve Apgar menor ou igual a 7 em 58% dos casos. Em 67% dos casos o peso foi adequado, 27% foram baixo peso e 4,6% muito baixo peso. O tipo de encefalocele mais prevalente foi occipital e em 67% dos casos houve cirurgia. O óbito ocorreu em 31% dos recém nascidos e 55% tiveram período de internação de 1 a 15 dias. Em 62% dos casos foi descrito retardo do desenvolvimento neuropsicomotor. Conclusões: A prevalência de encefalocele foi de 1,24/1000 nascimentos e esteve associada às mães jovens e não primigestas.

Objective: To describe a serie of newborns with encephalocele. Method: Retrospective, descriptive and analytical study, with medical records analysis of newborns with encephalocele, born at the Hospital da Mulher Prof. Dr. José Aristodemo Pinotti - Center for Integral Assistance to Women's Health at the University of Campinas (UNICAMP). All the patients born with these conditions were selected from January/1997 until July/2008. It was studied: maternal age, parity, prenatal care, fetal presentation, mode of delivery, gender, gestational age, Apgar score, birth weight, type of encephalocele, surgical treatment, occurrence of death, hospitalization period, delayed neuropsychomotor development. Frequencies were calculated for each variable and the association among then were assessed statistically using the chi-square and Fisher exact test, considering a 5% alpha. Results: There were 43 cases with prevalence of 1,24/100 births. Maternal age range most frequent was 18 to 32 years (83%), in not primigravidae (65%), who made the prenatal care (95%). The most recurrent fetal presentation was cephalic (45%) with cesarean sections (65%). More cases were found in girls, with gestational age _37 weeks, with the majority of infants with malformations born at term (79%). First minute Apgar score was less than or equal to 7 in 58% of the cases. In 67% of the cases the weight was appropriate, 27% were low birth weight, and 4,6% were very low birth weight infants. The most prevalent type of encephalocele was occipital; 67% of the cases were underwent the surgery. Death occurred in 31% of the newborns and hospitalization period, in most cases, was 1 to 15 days. Neuropsychomotor development delay was observed in 62% of the cases. Conclusions: The prevalence of encephalocele was 1,24/1000 births and there was associated with young mothers and not primiparous.

Frontonasal dysplasia, callosal agenesis, basal encephalocele, and eye anomalies syndrome with a partial 21q22.3 deletion.

We describe a girl with a phenotype characterized by frontonasal dysplasia, callosal agenesis, basal encephalocele, and eye anomalies who presents a 46,XX,r(21) karyotype. Array-comparative genomic hybridization using the Afflymetrix 100K DNA oligoarray set showed an interstitial deletion 21q22.3 of approximately 219 kb. Conventional karyotype of both parents was normal, and it was not possible to perform the molecular studies. In this report we raise the hypothesis that the deleted genes located at 21q22.3 could account to the phenotype.

Obliteración del seno frontal para el tratamiento de fístulas de LCR y meningoencefaloceles / Frontal sinus obliteration for treatment of CSF leaks and meningoencephaloceles

El tratamiento endoscópico de las fístulas de LCR se ha convertido en el gold standard. No obstante, aquellas localizadas en seno frontal presentan serias dificultades para su abordaje endoscópico, especialmente si se asocia la existencia de un meningoencefalocele. En estos casos se debe valorar el abordaje externo con obliteración del seno frontal. Presentamos dos casos de fístulas de LCR cuyo origen fue debido a sendos meningoencefaloceles protruyendo a través de la pared posterior del seno frontal y que precisaron de un abordaje externo para su tratamiento.

Endoscopic treatment of CSF leak is the Gold Standard. Nevertheless, at frontal sinus it is very difficult the endoscopic approach, especially if there is a meningoencephalocele associated. In these cases, an external approach with frontal sinus obliteration should be considered. We present two cases of CSF leaks whose origin are meningoencephaloceles that protrude from posterior frontal sinus wall, treated with an external approach.

[Chronic nasal obstruction: ethmoidal encephalocele in an adult patient]. / Obstrucción nasal crónica: encefalocele nasoetmoidal en paciente adulto.

Nasal obstruction is a frequent cause of referral to the ear, nose and throat specialist. When this symptom is resistant to medical management and common causes have been ruled out, the presence of neural structures should be investigated In the nasoethmoidal meningoencephalocele, a congenital defect of the ethmoid lamina cribrosa allows the herniation of the intracranial contents into the nasal fossa. The key to clinical diagnosis is the presence of nasal obstruction with rhinorrhea and recurrent meningitis. We describe the case of a 33-year old female who was long treated for nasal polyposis and underwent a successful surgical treatment of ethmoidal meningoencephalocele.

Transsphenoidal meningoencephalocele associated with cleft lip and palate: challenges for diagnosis and surgical treatment.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to highlight the challenges for early diagnosis and the difficulties observed in surgical treatment of patients with transsphenoidal meningoencephalocele associated with cleft lip and/or palate. METHOD: We evaluated six male patients treated over the course of 4 years. Five patients presented encephalic herniation with nonfunctional brain tissue; one of these presented herniation of the pituitary gland and cerebral ventricles. RESULTS: All the patients received surgical treatment for the cleft lip and/or palate. Only one patient underwent repair of the meningoencephalocele, via nasal endoscopy. There were no postprocedural clinical or surgical complications. CONCLUSION: The tendency is to avoid neurosurgery, opting for periodic follow-up with magnetic resonance imaging. In the presence of cleft palate, palatoplasty is essential to protect the meningoencephalocele.

Endoscopic management of congenital meningo-encephalocele with nasal flaps.

The objective of this paper is to present a case of a 2-year-old girl diagnosed with a meningo-encephalocele after episodes of meningitis, and treated with a transnasal endoscopic approach using nasal septal flaps pediculated at the sphenopalatine artery. Endoscopic repair is a viable and minimally invasive alternative to traditional craniotomy, however technical difficulties encountered as well as questions that remain unanswered are discussed.

Diagnosis and treatment of isolated sphenoid sinus disease: a review of 109 cases.

CONCLUSION: Endoscopic transethmoidal sphenoidotomy performed mainly in the early stages of the pathology and by expert hands is [WX1]very effective in treating isolated sphenoid sinus disease. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the causes of isolated sphenoid sinus disease identified in 109 patients and report on the most appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic patterns for an earlier diagnosis and a successful treatment of the disease. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 109 subjects with various isolated sphenoid pathologies were first examined by general objective examination, nasal sinus endoscopy, CT scan of paranasal sinuses, and in some cases with MRI. Then, they underwent medical and/or surgical treatment. RESULTS: Nineteen patients (17.43%) had isolated sphenoiditis, 6 (5.5%) fungal sinusitis, 30 (27.52%) mucocele, 6 (5.5%) fibrous dysplasia, 6 (5.5%) meningoencephalocele, 5 (4.58%) inverted papilloma, 4 (3.66%) epidermoid carcinoma, 10 (9.17%) liquor fistula, 1 (0.9%) rhabdomyosarcoma, 1 (0.9%) chordoma, and 1 (0.9%) had carotid pseudoaneurysm. Evidence of definitive diagnosis by endoscopy was obtained in less than half of the cases. CT scan, however, sometimes in combination with MRI, determined the pathology in all the cases. A follow-up of at least 4 years post-surgery showed good results in all the patients who underwent endoscopic transethmoidal sphenoidotomy.

Absence of mutations in Pax6 gene in three cases of Morning Glory syndrome associated with isolated growth hormone deficiency / A ausência de mutações no gene PAX6 em três casos de síndrome de Morning Glory associada à deficiência isolada de hormônio do crescimento

Morning glory syndrome (MGS) is a congenital optic disc dysplasia often associated with craniofacial anomalies, especially basal encephalocele and hypopituitarism. Clinical signs are varied and often occult. The PAX6 gene is involved in ocular morphogenesis and is expressed in numerous ocular tissues during development especially in the developing central nervous system. The aim of the present study is to evaluate PAX6 in MGS associated with isolated growth hormone deficiency. Three pre-pubertal males (A, B and C) with MGS and short stature due to growth hormone deficiency, treated with recombinant human growth hormone with limited response, were reported. Two of them had basal encephalocele. Coding and non-coding sequences corresponding of PAX6 different transcripts were analyzed by direct sequencing. Nucleotide variations causing putative aminoacid change were not observed. Patient A presented the new IVS2+9G>A transition, whereas patients A and C were heterozygous for known single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) within the intron 4. In addition, two SNP heterozygoses were observed for patient C in both intron 9 and 13. Sequencing also revealed several nucleotide variations in patient B. Two heterozygoses for known polymorphisms were identified along with a novel C>A nucleotide change in intron 4. This patient also presented a low number on the TG repeat in intron 9 and a new IVS11+33A>T transversion. Gene regulation and transcription of PAX6 are complex processes; there are two major protein isoforms, PAX6(-5a) and PAX6(+5a), and nine transcripts described. Furthermore, extra transcription regulatory elements have been postulated within PAX6 introns. Considering that neither population distributions on PAX6 polymorphism nor their linkeages with diseases have been reported, a functional effect due to alterations described here cannot be discarded.

A síndrome de Morning Glory (SMG) é uma displasia óptica congênita associada a anomalias craniofaciais, principalmente encefalocele basal e hipopituitarismo. Os sinais clínicos são variados e muitas vezes ocultos. O gene PAX6 está envolvido na morfogênese ocular e se expressa em vários tecidos oculares durante o desenvolvimento do sistema nervoso central. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o gene PAX6 na SMG associada com deficiência isolada de hormônio de crescimento. Foram relatados três pacientes pré-púberes (A, B e C) com SMG e baixa estatura por deficiência de hormônio de crescimento tratados com hormônio de crescimento recombinante humano. As seqüências codificadoras e não-codificadoras correspondentes ao PAX6 em diferentes transcritos foram analisadas por seqüenciamento direto. Variações nucleotídeas com trocas pontuais de aminoácidos não foram encontradas. O paciente A apresentou uma transição nova IVS2+9G>A, enquanto os pacientes A e C foram heterozigotos para um polimorfismo (SNP) no íntron 4. Ainda, dois SNPs em heterozigose nos íntrons 9 e 13 foram observados no paciente C. O seqüenciamento também mostrou várias variações nucleotídeas no paciente B. Dois SNPs conhecidos com a alteração nucleotídea nova C>A no íntron 4 foram observados em heterozigose. Este paciente também apresentou um baixo número de repetições TG no íntron 9 e uma nova transversão IVS11+33A>T. A regulação e a transcrição do gene PAX6 são um processo complexo; existem 2 isoformas principais da proteína, PAX6(-5a) e PAX6(+5a) e 9 transcritos descritos. Considerando que nem a distribuição de SNPs no PAX6 e nem as suas ligações com as doenças foram relatadas, um defeito funcional devido às alterações descritas não pode ser descartado.

Encefalocele occipital: reporte de un caso / Occipital encephalocele: a case report

Presentamos el caso de un recién nacido femenino, con encefalocele occipital, diagnosticado en el período perinatal a las 29 semanas de gestación; atendido en los Servicios de Obstetricia y Neurocirugía del Hospital Universitario de Caracas. Se realizó una revisión la literatura dada la poca frecuencia de esta patología

We presente a case of female newborn child with occipital encephalocele diagnosed at 29 weeks of pregnancy; being attended in the Service of Obstetrics and Neurosurgery of the Hospital Universitario de Caracas. A literature review was done by infrecuent pathology

Absence of mutations in Pax6 gene in three cases of morning glory syndrome associated with isolated growth hormone deficiency.

Morning glory syndrome (MGS) is a congenital optic disc dysplasia often associated with craniofacial anomalies, especially basal encephalocele and hypopituitarism. Clinical signs are varied and often occult. The PAX6 gene is involved in ocular morphogenesis and is expressed in numerous ocular tissues during development especially in the developing central nervous system. The aim of the present study is to evaluate PAX6 in MGS associated with isolated growth hormone deficiency. Three pre-pubertal males (A, B and C) with MGS and short stature due to growth hormone deficiency, treated with recombinant human growth hormone with limited response, were reported. Two of them had basal encephalocele. Coding and non-coding sequences corresponding of PAX6 different transcripts were analyzed by direct sequencing. Nucleotide variations causing putative aminoacid change were not observed. Patient A presented the new IVS2+9G>A transition, whereas patients A and C were heterozygous for known single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) within the intron 4. In addition, two SNP heterozygoses were observed for patient C in both intron 9 and 13. Sequencing also revealed several nucleotide variations in patient B. Two heterozygoses for known polymorphisms were identified along with a novel C>A nucleotide change in intron 4. This patient also presented a low number on the TG repeat in intron 9 and a new IVS11+33A>T transversion. Gene regulation and transcription of PAX6 are complex processes; there are two major protein isoforms, PAX6(-5a) and PAX6(+5a), and nine transcripts described. Furthermore, extra transcription regulatory elements have been postulated within PAX6 introns. Considering that neither population distributions on PAX6 polymorphism nor their linkeages with diseases have been reported, a functional effect due to alterations described here cannot be discarded.

Basal encephalocele associated with morning glory syndrome: case report.

The basal encephaloceles refer to rare entities and they correspond to herniation of brain tissue through defects of skull along the cribiform plate or the sphenoid bone. A rare morning glory syndrome, with characteristic retinal defect has been reported in association with basal encephaloceles. Hypophysis hormonal deficiencies may occur. We accounted for a pituitary dwarfism with delayed diagnosed transsphenoidal encephalocele associated with morning glory syndrome, showing the alterations found in retinography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging.

Basal encephalocele associated with morning glory syndrome: case report

The basal encephaloceles refer to rare entities and they correspond to herniation of brain tissue through defects of skull along the cribiform plate or the sphenoid bone. A rare morning glory syndrome, with characteristic retinal defect has been reported in association with basal encephaloceles. Hypophysis hormonal deficiencies may occur. We accounted for a pituitary dwarfism with delayed diagnosed transsphenoidal encephalocele associated with morning glory syndrome, showing the alterations found in retinography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging.

As encefaloceles basais são entidades raras e correspondem a herniações do tecido cerebral através de um defeito do crânio, ao longo da lâmina crivosa etmoidal ou do osso esfenoidal. A rara síndrome morning glory, com alterações de fundo de olho características pode apresentar-se associada à encefalocele basal. Deficiências hormonais hipofisárias podem ocorrer. Relatamos caso de nanismo hipofisário com encefalocele transesfenoidal de diagnóstico tardio associada à síndrome de morning glory, mostrando as alterações na retinografia, tomografia computadorizada e ressonância magnética.