Anencephaly

Publish date: 2024-04-30

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Anencephaly is a lethal fetal abnormality – the absence of the fetal skull and of the brain is incompatible with life. It is an abnormality that occurs very early in the development of the embryo and is not reversible.

It will cause problems with delivery including prolonged labour, as the absence of a normal head compromises passage through the birth canal if the baby is in 'cephalic' presentation. If the baby is in breech, then delivery will be unaltered.

The diagnosis of anencephaly can be made early in pregnancy because the brain and skull are developed by the end of the first trimester, as we have seen in earlier sessions. It should be possible to demonstrate the normal skull and brain by 12 weeks. A long axis or sagittal view of the fetus will show the bones of the skull vault, and the frontal bone returning a bright echo.

Anencephaly may be associated with deficiency of folate - studies have shown that if women take Folate supplements prior to conception, then the incidence of anencephaly (and other neural tube abnormalities) is reduced.

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