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Anencephalic monsters

Report of gross anatomical features in five cases

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Summary

Five cases of anencephalic monsters, collected in 5 to 6 months have been dissected. The findings are compiled and presented.

All were female and more or less full term. The brain was grossly deformed in all. In one it was completely absent and in the other 4, it was present as a discoloured brown mass. The cerebellum in these latter 4 was reasonably well formed. The optic nerve and eyes were well developed in all.

The vault of the skull was deficient in all cases, from the supraorbital margin to the superior nuchal lines. The cervical spine was absent in 2, short in I, and defective posteriorly in the remaining 2.

The thymus was normal in 3, enlarged and bilobed in 2. The hypophysis was absent while the thyroid and adrenals were rudimentary.

All these cases were associated with certain other anomalies, the chief of which were pilonidal sinus, cystic kidneys, unicornuate uterus and malrotation of the gut.

The findings are discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy, Medical College, Aurangabad

    P. C. Bansal, A. M. Vare & G. M. Indurkar

Authors
  1. P. C. Bansal
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  2. A. M. Vare
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  3. G. M. Indurkar
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Bansal, P.C., Vare, A.M. & Indurkar, G.M. Anencephalic monsters. Indian J Pediatr 32, 197–201 (1965). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02796285

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02796285

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