Iniencephaly clausus: A case report with review of literature

Surviving against the odds: exploring the clinical and radiological features of iniencephaly compatible with life. Illustrative case

BACKGROUND

Iniencephaly is a rare neural tube defect (NTD) characterized by deformities in the occiput and inion, along with rachischisis in the cervical and thoracic spine, resulting in the head appearing in retroflexion.

OBSERVATIONS

This report details the case of a female newborn who underwent surgery for an encephalocele. She survived up to 6 months, exhibiting good overall health, although she displayed physical abnormalities, including facial deformity, a short neck, and minor spasms in all limbs. Both cardiovascular and abdominal assessments remained stable, and imaging revealed defects in the occipital bone, a large cephalocele, and spinal dysraphism.

LESSONS

Although iniencephaly is generally incompatible with life, a few cases have been reported otherwise. Our patient, one of these notable exceptions, remains alive at 6 months old, possibly due to the lack of major vascular deformities. However, she does exhibit significant psychomotor retardation.

Iniencephaly Clausus: A New Case With Clinical and Imaging Findings

Iniencephaly is a rare kind of neural tube defect that is classified into two types of iniencephaly apertus and iniencephaly clausus. This anomaly could be diagnosed prenatally by obstetric ultrasonography and terminated by therapeutic abortion; however, it could be undiagnosed until birth similar to our case due to the abnormal position of the fetus or lack of experience of the sonographer. Due to abnormality of the neural tube, which causes abnormal head and neck position, all these cases will die shortly after birth. We hereby introduce the photos and imaging findings of a case of an alive neonate with iniencephaly clausus.

Iniencephaly: Radiological and pathological features of a series of three cases

Iniencephaly is a rare form of neural tube defect with an incidence of 0.1-10 in 10,000 pregnancies. It is characterized by the presence of occipital bone defects at foramen magnum, fixed retroflexion of head, spinal dysmorphism, and lordosis of cervicothoracic vertebrae. It is usually associated with central nervous system, gastrointestinal, and cardiovascular anomalies. We present radiological and autopsy findings in a series of 3 cases of iniencephaly (gestational ages 29.3, 23, and 24 weeks) first fetus in addition showed omphalocele, pulmonary hypoplasia, two lobes in right lung, accessory spleen, atrial septal defect, bilateral clubfoot, ambiguous genitalia, and single umbilical artery. Second fetus was a classical case of iniencephaly apertus with spina bifida. Third fetus had colpocephaly and bifid spine.

Two iniencephaly cases born the same day in the same hospital of Cali, Colombia. Iniencephaly cluster?

Two patients with short and hyperextended neck, cervical meningocele and other birth defects, were born the same day at the same hospital, both died. The autopsy report and X-rays show iniencephaly's classic findings. Revision of clinical histories did not show consanguinity between the parents, or exposure to environmental factors.