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Anencephaly - Treatment

Alternative Names

Aprosencephaly with open cranium

Treatment:

There is no current therapy. Talk to your doctor about care decisions.

Expectations (prognosis):

This condition usually causes death within a few days.

Calling your health care provider:

A health care provider usually detects this condition during routine prenatal testing and ultrasound. Otherwise, it is recognized at birth.

If anencephaly is detected before birth, further counseling will be needed.

Ultrasound, normal fetus - ventricles of brain

Reviewed last on: 5/1/2011
Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Kinsman SL, Johnston MV. Congenital anomalies of the central nervous system. In: Kliegman RM, Behrman RE, Jenson HB, Stanton BF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 592.

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