Meningocele

Meningocele is a type of spina bifida in which the spinal cord develops normally but the meninges protrude from a spinal opening. Symptoms vary between patients. Some patients with meningocele will have few or no symptoms of spina bifida, while other patients may have incomplete paralysis with urinary and bowel dysfunction.

 

An Introduction to Meningocele

Spina bifida is a condition that is characterized by the incomplete development of the brain, spinal cord, and/or meninges (the protective covering around the brain and spinal cord). Meningocele is one type of spina bifida in which the spinal cord develops normally but the meninges protrude from a spinal opening.
 

Cause of Meningocele

The exact cause of spina bifida is unknown, and research scientists do not know what disrupts the complete closure of the neural tube, causing a malformation to develop. However, they do suspect that genetic, nutritional, and environmental factors may play a role in the cause of meningocele.
 
(Click Causes of Spina Bifida for more information about the causes of meningocele.)
 

Symptoms of Meningocele

Symptoms of meningocele vary between patients. Some patients with meningocele will have few or no symptoms of spina bifida, while other patients may have incomplete paralysis with urinary and bowel dysfunction.
 
(Click Symptoms of Spina Bifida for more information about the symptoms of this disorder.)
 

Diagnosing Meningocele

In most cases, a meningocele diagnosis is made before birth. Tests that are used to make a meningocele diagnosis include:
 
  • Second-trimester maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein screening
  • Fetal ultrasound
  • Multiple-marker screens
  • Amniocentesis.
 
(Click Spina Bifida Diagnosis for more information about the tests that are used in making a meningocele diagnosis.)
 
(Meningocele Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD