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Encephalocele
Last reviewed: 20.11.2021
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Encephalocele is a herniated protrusion of intracranial contents through a congenital defect of the base of the skull. Meningocele contains only a dura mater, while a meningoencephalocele also contains brain tissue. Encephalocele of the orbit can be: anterior (frontal-etmoidal), posterior (associated with underlying bone dysplasia).
[Symptoms of encephalocele
Encephalocele is usually seen in young children.
The anterior encephalocele is localized in the upper medial quadrant of the orbit and shifts the eyeball forward and outward. The posterior encephalocele displaces the eyeball anteriorly and downward.
The cyst increases in size with physical stress and crying and can decrease with pressure on it by hand.
Pulsating exophthalmos can be due to communication with subarachnoid space, but because of non-vascular nature it is never accompanied by noise or trembling.
CT scan reveals a bone defect through which protrusion occurs.
What do need to examine?
How to examine?
Differential diagnosis of encephalocele
- the anterior encephalocele should be differentiated from dermoid cysts and cysts of the lacrimal sac, which can also cause edema in the zone of internal adhesion;
- posterior encephalocele differentiate with orbital diseases that occur at an early age: capillary hemangioma, juvenile xanthogranules, teratoma, microphthalmus with cyst.
Combinations of encephalocele:
- with other bone anomalies (hypertelorism, broad bridge of nose and split sky);
- with eye pathologies (microphthalmus, coloboma and "morning light" syndrome);
- Type I neurofibromatosis often combines with the posterior encephalocele.