title: Naso-ethmoidal encephalocele with bilateral orbital extension: report of a case in a western country.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Encephalocele is a rare congenital malformation of the central nervous system with protrusion of cranial content (meninges, brain, and ventricles in different combinations) beyond the normal confines of the skull. Anterior encephaloceles occur with a high frequency in Southeast Asia, while in the Western countries occipital encephaloceles prevail. The treatment of an anterior (naso-ethmoidal) encephalocele involves a neurosurgeon or a multidisciplinary team (neurosurgeon, maxillofacial surgeon, plastic surgeon, and ENT surgeon) dealing with craniofacial surgery. Goals of surgery include removal or repositioning of nonfunctional cerebral tissue, closure of the dura, and reconstruction of skeletal and cutaneous structures. The prognosis depends from the anatomical site, volume of neural contents, and the presence of coexisting malformations.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report the case of an Italian child suffering from a naso-ethmoidal encephalocele with bilateral orbital extension. The surgical treatment was performed in two steps.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sincipital encephalocele is a complex pathology without a unique standardized surgical treatment. Its low incidence in Western countries can make its management particularly tricky.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Giannina Gaslini Children's Research Hospital (IRCSS), Largo Gerolamo Gaslini 5, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Secci
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Consales
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Merciadri
authors.forename: Giuseppe Marcello
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Ravegnani
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Piatelli
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pavanello
authors.forename: Armando
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cama
mesh_terms: D004677:Encephalocele / Q000151:congenital* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007558:Italy; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D009915:Orbit / Q000473:pathology; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D012886:Skull / Q000002:abnormalities; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed