A ten-year review of encephalocele in a teaching hospital.

A 10-year review of infants with encephalocele was carried out in a multicentered teaching hospital. Out of 23,438 infants seen within the period, only 12 cases of encephalocele were seen, giving an incidence of 0.5/1000 births. Nine (75%) of patients had occipital encephalocele, two (16.7%) occipitoparietal and one (8.3%) fronto-nasal. Two patients had spina bifida as an associated neural tube defect while ocular abnormalities were seen in another two. None had neurological defects at birth but some showed evidence of hydrocephalus and delayed milestones after surgery. Ultrasonic diagnosis was made in one case only. The etiologic, prognostic and descriptive characteristics, in addition to obstetric management of encephalocele are discussed.