title: Frontoethmoidal meningoencephaloceles: a review of 14 consecutive patients.
abstract: Over a period of 4.5 years, 14 patients with frontoethmoidal meningoencephaloceles were treated. Most patients came from Northern Namibia. Precise delineation of all cranial abnormalities was obtained by modern imaging techniques, and specific patterns of cerebral abnormality were found. The malformation was corrected in a single stage, and significant modifications have been developed to render the procedure simpler and safer. Information from our series favors delayed neural tube closure as the primary pathogenesis of the defect and suggests a common teratogen as the most probable etiological agent. Our experience leads us to advocate early correction of even small defects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Stellenbosch, Tygerberg, Republic of South Africa.
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Smit
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Zeeman
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: de V Cluver
mesh_terms: D004677:Encephalocele / Q000601:surgery*; D005004:Ethmoid Bone / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005624:Frontal Bone / Q000601:surgery; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000002:abnormalities; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008588:Meningocele / Q000601:surgery*; D009276:Namibia