title: Hydranencephaly: cerebral spinal fluid instead of cerebral mantles.
abstract: The authors report a wide and updated revision of hydranencephaly, including a literature review, and present the case of a patient affected by this condition, still alive at 36 months.Hydranencephaly is an isolated and with a severe prognosis abnormality, affecting the cerebral mantle. In this condition, the cerebral hemispheres are completely or almost completely absent and are replaced by a membranous sac filled with cerebrospinal fluid. Midbrain is usually not involved. Hydranencephaly is a relatively rare cerebral disorder. Differential diagnosis is mainly relevant when considering severe hydrocephalus, poroencephalic cyst and alobar holoprosencephaly. Ethical questions related to the correct criteria for the surgical treatment are also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Pediatrics and Pediatric Emergency, University Hospital "Policlinico-Vittorio Emanuele", Catania, Italy. ppavone@unict.it.
authors.forename: Piero
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pavone
authors.affiliation: Unit of Pediatrics and Pediatric Emergency, University Hospital "Policlinico-Vittorio Emanuele", Catania, Italy. terrenere178@tin.it.
authors.forename: Andrea D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Praticò
authors.affiliation: Unit of Pediatrics and Pediatric Emergency, University Hospital "Policlinico-Vittorio Emanuele", Catania, Italy. giovitaliti@yahoo.it.
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vitaliti
authors.affiliation: Department of Formative Processes, University of Catania, Catania, Italy. mruggie@unict.it.
authors.forename: Martino
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ruggieri
authors.affiliation: Chair of Child Neuropsychiatry, University of Catania, Catania, Italy. rerizzo@unict.it.
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rizzo
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neurological Sciences, National Research Council, Catania, Italy. e.parano@unict.it.
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Parano
authors.affiliation: Unit of Pediatrics and Pediatric Emergency, University Hospital "Policlinico-Vittorio Emanuele", Catania, Italy. lorenzo_pavone@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pavone
authors.affiliation: Neuroradiologic Unit, Department of Radiology, University of Catania, Catania, Italy. gpero@unict.it.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pero
authors.affiliation: Unit of Pediatrics and Pediatric Emergency, University Hospital "Policlinico-Vittorio Emanuele", Catania, Italy. raffaelefalsaperla@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Raffaele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Falsaperla
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D006832:Hydranencephaly / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000175:diagnosis*; D065708:Porencephaly / Q000175:diagnosis*