Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Case Report
Abstract: Acrania is a severe congenital malformation characterized by partial or complete absence of the cranial vault. We report the case of a 24-year-old woman (G2P1) who presented at 34+1 weeks of gestation with labor contractions. Prenatal care began at 7 weeks, and ultrasound examinations at 12 and 25 weeks confirmed fetal acrania with persistent breech presentation. Given the advanced gestational age, persistent breech presentation, and multidisciplinary counseling, cesarean delivery was performed. A 3,100g neonate was delivered with anomalies consistent with the prenatal diagnosis and died 10 hours later while receiving comfort-focused palliative care. The mother recovered uneventfully and was discharged in stable condition. This case highlights the clinical importance of early prenatal recognition of acrania and individualized perinatal planning, particularly when the diagnosis persists into advanced gestation. Early diagnosis facilitates informed counseling and coordinated obstetric and neonatal management, including appropriate preparation for palliative care.
Source: Cureus
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7214930659