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What causes a meningocele?

What causes a meningocele?

Meningocele results from a failure to develop the caudal end of the neural tube resulting in a protrusion that contains cerebrospinal fluid, meninges, overlying skin, and does not have the spinal cord as its content. Anterior meningocele is usually presacral in location.

What happens in meningocele?

Meningocele occurs when a sac of spinal fluid pokes through the spine. This fluid is normally only around the brain and spine, but a problem with the bony covering over the spine allows it to poke out in this case. The malformation contains no nerves and may or may not be covered by a layer of skin.

Is meningocele a spina bifida?

Another type of spina bifida is meningocele. With meningocele a sac of fluid comes through an opening in the baby’s back. But, the spinal cord is not in this sac. There is usually little or no nerve damage.

What is meningocele and Meningomyelocele?

What is meningomyelocele in children? Meningomyelocele, also commonly known as myelomeningocele, is a type of spina bifida. Spina bifida is a birth defect in which the spinal canal and the backbone don’t close before the baby is born. This type of birth defect is also called a neural tube defect.

Can a meningocele be removed?

Surgery. Treating the meningocele involves closing the overlying meninges and the skin. Surgery is performed within a day or two of birth, and is necessary to prevent infection and to protect the exposed area of the spine.

How do you treat meningocele in babies?

Once the baby is diagnosed with meningocele, the doctor will most likely schedule surgery as soon as possible. An early surgery may prevent infection, swelling, and further damage to the spinal cord. Until the surgery, the defect will be covered with a sterile dressing.

Does meningocele require surgery?

Repair of a meningocele or myelomeningocele is needed to prevent infection and further injury to the child’s spinal cord and nerves. Surgery cannot correct the defects in the spinal cord or nerves.

Can meningocele be removed?

What is the difference between Myelomeningocele and Meningocele?

Meningocele typically causes mild problems, with a sac of fluid present at the gap in the spine. Myelomeningocele, also known as open spina bifida, is the most severe form.

Where is meningocele located?

Meningoceles are commonly located in the lumbosacral region in the vertebral arches. These lesions are often covered with skin, and the bony abnormality rarely involves more than two to three vertebrae. The sac of the meningocele consists of both arachnoid and dural meninges and contains cerebrospinal fluid.

What is the difference between Myelomeningocele and meningocele?

What is the medical definition of meningocele?

Medical Definition of meningocele. : a protrusion of meninges through a defect in the skull or spinal column (as in spina bifida) forming a cyst filled with cerebrospinal fluid.

Can a meningocele be found on a chest radiograph?

Meningocele commonly presents as an incidental finding (60%) or with dyspnea (23%). On chest radiographs, a meningocele is a sharply marginated paravertebral soft tissue mass associated with scoliosis or rib and vertebral defects at the same levels.

How does meningocele in cervical spinal cord herniate?

Cervical spinal cord diastematomyelia type II with associated craniocervical meningocele. (A) The meningocele is seen herniating through a bony defect in the vertebral posterior elements. (B) Axial T2WI shows that the cord has split into two hemicords.

What kind of fluid is in the meningocele SAC?

Meningocele: External protruding sac contains meninges and cerebrospinal fluid. From Frazier et al., 2000. Miller-Keane Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, and Allied Health, Seventh Edition. © 2003 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved.

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