Johni L. Cochran
University of Cincinnati
An encephaloceles is a type of neural tube defect. It is characterized by a herniation of the brain and meninges through a structural weakness in the bony structures of the skull (Tirumandas et al, 2013). There are four classifications of encephaloceles: frontoethmoidal, basal, occipital, and cranial vault. Classifications are based on the type of defect and its location on the skull. Nasal or frontoethmoidal encephaloceles are the most common.
Pathophysiology
Although poorly understood, there are different theories as to the cause of encephaloces. Like with most disorders, the pathogenesis of encelphaloceles has been explained as a combination