title: A meningomyelocele with normal intracranial signs on ultrasound and false-negative amniotic fluid alpha-fetoprotein and acetylcholinesterase.
abstract: Neural tube defects are the major targets of prenatal diagnoses, along with Down syndrome. Prenatal diagnosis of spina bifida is possible at second trimester of gestation through α-fetoprotein and acetylcholinesterase biochemistry assays and ultrasound. In particular, the discovery of characteristic intracranial signs on ultrasound leads to a very high diagnosis rate. However, it is rare for spina bifida to present without intracranial signs while also showing normal values of maternal serum α-fetoprotein, amniotic fluid α-fetoprotein, and acetylcholinesterase. In our hospital, a fetus with spina bifida was delivered at 37+5 weeks' gestation by cesarean section, and was continually followed up over 2 years to date.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Eulji University Medical Center, Eulji University College of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Chong Hyeok
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Eulji University Medical Center, Eulji University College of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Kyu
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Eulji University Medical Center, Eulji University College of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Chan Hee
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Eulji University Medical Center, Eulji University College of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Moon Sun
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Eulji University Medical Center, Eulji University College of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Jeong Hoon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Rho
keywords: Intracranial sign; Maternal serum alpha-fetoproteins; Meningocele; Meningocele repair; Spinal dysraphism