What is the medical definition of myelocele?
Medical Definition of myelocele : spina bifida in which the neural tissue of the spinal cord is exposed Learn More About myelocele Dictionary Entries Near myelocele
What is the difference between myelocele and meningocele?
In myelocele, the spinal cord is exposed so that nerve tissue lies exposed on the surface of the back without even a covering of skin or of the meninges, the membranous tissue surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Meningocele occurs when these meninges protrude through the…
What is myelocele medgen ID?
Myelocele (Concept Id: C0086664) A rare disorder that presents as a flat neural placode (at the level of the skin of the back) that is exposed to the environment. The lack of expansion of the subarachnoid space distinguishes this lesion from myelomeningocele. Myelocele MedGen UID: 39678 •Concept ID: C0086664 Congenital Abnormality Synonym:
What is Myelomeningocele (myelofibrosis)?
Myelomeningocele is the most severe form of spina bifida. It happens when parts of the spinal cord and nerves come through the open part of the spine. It causes nerve damage and other disabilities. Seventy to ninety percent of children with this condition also have too much fluid on their brains ( hydrocephalus ).
What is the meaning of Myelocele?
Medical Definition of myelocele : spina bifida in which the neural tissue of the spinal cord is exposed.
What is spina bifida Myelocele?
Myelomeningocele is a severe type of spina bifida in which the membranes and the spinal nerves protrude at birth, forming a sac on the baby's back. The exposed nervous system may become infected, so prompt surgery is needed after birth.
What is the main cause of spina bifida?
Not having enough folic acid during pregnancy is one of the most important factors that can increase your chances of having a child with spina bifida. Folic acid (also known as vitamin B9) occurs naturally in some foods, such as broccoli, peas and brown rice. It's also added to foods, such as some breakfast cereals.
What meningocele means?
What is Meningocele? A meningocele is a birth defect where there is a sac protruding from the spinal column. The sac includes spinal fluid, but does not contain neural tissue. It may be covered with skin or with meninges (the membranes that cover the central nervous system).
What is the mildest form of spina bifida?
Spina bifida occulta is the mildest type of spina bifida. It is sometimes called “hidden” spina bifida. With it, there is a small gap in the spine, but no opening or sac on the back. The spinal cord and the nerves usually are normal.
What is the rarest form of spina bifida?
Meningocele causes fewer symptoms than open spina bifida, and is the rarest form of spina bifida. The mildest form of spina bifida is also the most common called spina bifida occulta, or closed spina bifida, it affects only the bones of the spinal column and is not always diagnosed in infancy.
How long do spina bifida patients live?
The prognosis for survival was strikingly poor in those with the most extensive neurological deficit. Only 17% (7/42) of those born with a high sensory level (above T11) survived to the mean age of 40 years, compared with 61% (23/38) of those with a low sensory level (below L3; p=0.001).
Can a person with spina bifida live a normal life?
"Most do well in school, and many play in sports. Because of today's medicine, about 90% of babies born with Spina Bifida now live to be adults, about 80% have normal intelligence and about 75% play sports and do other fun activities."
Does spina bifida get worse with age?
Adults who have spina bifida face different problems than do children, including: Normal aging process including loss of muscle strength and flexibility, less physical stamina, and a decrease in sensory abilities tend to decline faster or more sever for adults with SB.
Can meningocele be cured?
Meningocele is a type of neural tube defect that occurs early in pregnancy when a fluid-filled sac protrudes from an opening in a fetus's back. Surgeons can repair meningocele prenatally or after birth, but there may be complications that can affect quality of life.
What are the signs and symptoms of meningocele?
Symptoms of myelomeningocele spina bifida include:open spinal canal over some vertebrae, usually in the middle or lower part of the back.membranes and spinal cord pushed outside the back in an exposed or skin-covered sack.weak or paralyzed leg muscles.seizures.deformed feet.hips that are not even.More items...
What causes a meningocele?
Meningocele results from a failure to develop the caudal end of the neural tube resulting in a protrusion that contains cerebrospinal fluid, meninges, overlying skin, and does not have the spinal cord as its content. Anterior meningocele is usually presacral in location.
What are the 3 types of spina bifida?
There are four types of spina bifida: occulta, closed neural tube defects, meningocele, and myelomeningocele.
What is the life expectancy of a person with spina bifida?
The prognosis for survival was strikingly poor in those with the most extensive neurological deficit. Only 17% (7/42) of those born with a high sensory level (above T11) survived to the mean age of 40 years, compared with 61% (23/38) of those with a low sensory level (below L3; p=0.001).
What does Hydrosyringomyelia mean?
sy·rin·go·my·e·li·a. (si-ring'gō-mī-ē'lē-ă) The presence in the spinal cord of longitudinal cavities lined by dense, gliogenous tissue, which are not caused by vascular insufficiency.
Does spina bifida get worse with age?
Adults who have spina bifida face different problems than do children, including: Normal aging process including loss of muscle strength and flexibility, less physical stamina, and a decrease in sensory abilities tend to decline faster or more sever for adults with SB.
Learn about this topic in these articles
In myelocele, the spinal cord is exposed so that nerve tissue lies exposed on the surface of the back without even a covering of skin or of the meninges, the membranous tissue surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Meningocele occurs when these meninges protrude through the…
characteristics
In myelocele, the spinal cord is exposed so that nerve tissue lies exposed on the surface of the back without even a covering of skin or of the meninges, the membranous tissue surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Meningocele occurs when these meninges protrude through the…
What is the name of the protein that is found in amniotic fluid?
Myelocele and alpha-fetoprotein in amniotic fluid.
What is a flat placode?
A rare disorder that presents as a flat neural placode (at the level of the skin of the back) that is exposed to the environment. The lack of expansion of the subarachnoid space distinguishes this lesion from myelomeningocele. [from SNOMEDCT_US]
What is a meningomyelocele in children?
What is meningomyelocele in children? Meningomyelocele, also commonly known as myelomeningocele, is a type of spina bifida. Spina bifida is a birth defect in which the spinal canal and the backbone don’t close before the baby is born. This type of birth defect is also called a neural tube defect. The spinal cord and the meninges (the tissue ...
What is a baby with meningomyelocele?
A baby with meningomyelocele is born with the spinal cord exposed. A sac on the baby’s mid to lower back may cover the exposed spinal cord.
How do you know if you have a myelomeningocele?
Symptoms of a myelomeningocele include a decreased ability to feel sensation below the opening in the spine. Other symptoms include decreased leg movement and the inability to control the bladder and bowels. Many children with this condition develop too much fluid around the brain ( hydrocephalus ).
Why is myelomeningocele diagnosed during pregnancy?
During pregnancy, myelomeningocele is often diagnosed due to an abnormal alpha fetoprotein screening test. Imaging studies such as a fetal ultrasound done ...
What is the treatment for myelomeningocele?
Other treatment options are focused on managing the long-term symptoms and may include a ventriculoperitoneal shunt to drain fluid from the head, antibiotics as protection from infection, and physical therapy. [3] [4] Specialists involved in the care of someone with myelomeningocele may include: Neurologist. Neurosurgeon.
What are the symptoms of a baby born with a myelomeningocele?
Symptoms of this condition include: [1] [5] Loss of bladder or bowel control. Partial or complete lack of sensation. Partial or complete paralysis of the legs.
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What are the environmental factors that cause myelomeningocele?
Environmental factors include exposure to radiation, different types of pollution, pesticides, organic solvents, and teratogens. Maternal factors are numerous and include irregular maternal nutrition, low folic acid supplementation, caffeine and alcohol consumption, smoking, the use of anticonvulsants, in addition to certain maternal illnesses such as diabetes, obesity, hyperthermia, and anxiety. However, most of the cases of myelomeningocele are sporadic in origin and occur in a non-genetic pattern. Though, some genetic factors might increase the risk of occurrence, for instance, the presence of chromosomal anomalies of trisomy 18 or 13 and patients with an affected twin or first-degree relative. Also, there are more than 40 genetic strains detected in animal models, specifically in mice, were associated with spina bifida aperta. In humans, in contrast, specific genetic mutations of amino-acid altering in the sequencing of coding regions such as planar cell polarity pathway genes and folate one-carbon metabolism encoding enzymes were reported in some patients with spina bifida. [2][6]
What is the term for a sac that contains neural tissue?
Myelomeningocele is one of the forms of spina bifida and described as a fluid contained sac containing neural tissue protruding from the back. It occurs when there is an incomplete closure of the spinal cord during the first month of pregnancy. Many factors can lead to myelomeningocele, and a vast majority of cases are preventable with adequate maternal nutrition and folic acid supplementation during pregnancy.
Is myelomeningocele a pregnancy diagnosis?
The diagnosis of myelomeningocele is possible in the first trimester of pregnancy. Amniocentesis is helpful and usually favored for high-risk patients. For instance, there are reports of elevated levels of alpha-fetoprotein in amniotic fluid samples in patients with anencephaly and myelomeningocele.[2] However, ultrasonography is non-invasive, safe, effective, and often used for second-trimester anomaly scanning. It usually involves a careful examination of the fetal spine preferably from the sagittal plane, looking for any visible sacs, cystic extensions, spinal lesions, or vertebral distortions.[2] Additionally, a biparietal diameter of less than the 5th percentile was shown to be associated with 50% of patients with spina bifida. [17]
