| Institution: | 1. Department of Pediatrics, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, U.S.A.
Biological Sciences Research Center, The School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, U.S.A.;2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, U.S.A. |
| Abstract: | Iniencephaly is an uncommon, but not rare, lesion involving a fusion between the posterior occipital bone and the cervical spine. Many cases are associated with other cranio-cervical abnormalities and anencephaly, and most are associated with other structural abnormalities. The prognosis is thought to be dismal. We describe a male infant, one of twins, who was diagnosed prenatally as having iniencephaly. The child was born without complication and has grown and thrived. This is the fourth patient with long-term survival with iniencephaly. We recommend that non-directive counselling be applied when presenting the findings of iniencephaly to parents. |
