Expansile cranioplasty for massive occipital encephalocele.
OBJECTIVE
This report highlights the management of infrequently encountered massive occipital encephaloceles with herniation of large amount of apparently functional cortex into the encephalocele sac.


METHODS
Two children with giant occipital encephaloceles with herniation of significant brain parenchyma into the encephalocele sac were managed with expansile cranioplasty and reconstruction of the calvarial defect with autologus bone graft harvested from the adjacent parietal region.


CONCLUSIONS
Giant occipital encephaloceles with significant brain parenchyma in the encephalocele sac can be considered for preservation of the herniated parenchyma and expansile cranioplasty.
Mohanty
Aaron
A
Departments of Neurosurgery, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, India. aarmohanty@yahoo.com
Biswas
Arundhati
A
Reddy
Madhusudan
M
Kolluri
Sastry
S
D016025:Bone Transplantation; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003399:Craniotomy / Q000379:methods*; D004677:Encephalocele / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D009777:Occipital Bone / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D009778:Occipital Lobe / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000473:pathology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D012086:Reoperation; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed