Fetal acrania: A case report

Introduction. Acrania is a very rare lethal congenital malformation characterized by an absence of the cranial vault with developed cerebral hemispheres. It sometimes confused anencephaly in which both forebrain and neurocranium are not developed. Although these two conditions principally differ their morphology pathogenesis, acrania may be precursor development through process known as Acrania-exencephaly-anencephaly sequence. Case report. A 27-year-old woman was diagnosed to have viable fetus absent skull uncovered brain directly exposed amniotic cavity. diagnosis made. medical abortion performed 14th week pregnancy. gross examination formalin-fixed revealed complete calva tissue. The structures stop abruptly above orbits showed triangular face bulging eyes. At top head, huge defect residual thin covering membrane visible. According correlation previous ultrasound findings, pathologist established secondary anencephaly. Conclusion. This paper suggests that many reported cases during second or third trimester pregnancy might represent end spectrum initially appears isolated acrania. reason for much higher global incidence compared