Encephalocele

Symptoms of encephalocele

If not treated, encephaloceles cause serious symptoms and problems, including:

• Developmental delays
• Hydrocephalus (excessive accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricles of the brain)
• An abnormally small head (microcephaly)
• Paralysis
• Vision problems

Encephalocele diagnosis

Doctors can diagnose encephaloceles before birth with ultrasound images. If an encephalocele is not detected during pregnancy, doctors usually diagnose it at birth. In rare cases, a small encephalocele in the nasal cavity can remain undetected for years, even into adulthood.

If your child has an encephalocele, doctors will order an MRI, and possibly a CT, to determine its contents and the surrounding anatomy.

Encephalocele treatment options

Encephalocele treatment includes removing the tumor or herniated sac and repairing the skull opening. Depending on the size and covering of the encephalocele, surgery may be postponed until the child is older. Surgery also depends on the location and contents of the sac.

Encephalocele of the skull base can be removed using the Expanded Endonasal Approach (EEA). Aurora neurosurgeons use this innovative, minimally invasive approach to reach and remove encephaloceles through the nose and nasal cavities.