Iniencephaly and Associated Anomalies In A 13 Week Fetus.

ABSTRACT

Iniencephaly is a rare neural tube defect (1 in 65,000 births in India). It involves defect of occiput and inions combined with rachischisis and retroflexion of head. We present a rare case of inencephaly diagnosed on ante-natal ultrasound in a 13 weeks fetus and associated with cystic hygroma and single umbilical artery. The fetal cervico-thoracic spine was retroflexed, occipital area was soft and brain tissue and spinal cord was visible externally in cervical region. The side of neck showed subcutaneous edema and two vessels (1 umbilical vein and 1 umbilical artery) were present in the umbilical cord. On x-ray examination spinous processes of all vertebrae showed presence of ossification centers except in the cervical region.