title: Postmortem axial skeletal radiography can reveal fetal CNS malformations.
abstract: The routinely performed autopsy of a macerated fetus will often be of dubious value, particularly as regards the examination of the central nervous system (CNS). Former studies have demonstrated a close relationship between certain CNS malformations and axial skeletal malformations revealed radiographically. In the present report a postmortem examination of a severely macerated fetus demonstrates a transsphenoidal encephalocele. A supplementary histological examination confirmed this condition and furthermore revealed absence of the pituitary gland. The findings were related to a strongly elevated serum alphafetoprotein level in the 18th gestational week. This report emphasizes the value of postmortem axial skeletal radiography of autolyzed fetuses suspected for CNS malformations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kjaer
authors.forename: B F
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Hansen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001921:Brain / Q000002:abnormalities*; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death; D005333:Fetus / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011859:Radiography