MENINGOMYELOCELE ASSOCIATED WITH CRANIUM-BIFIDUM - RARE COEXISTENCE OF 2 MAJOR MALFORMATIONS

Three cases of lumbosacral meningomyelocele associated with cranium bi fidum are reported. The meningomyeloceles were of the neural placode t ype and the cranium bifidum was an interfrontal encephalomeningocele i n all cases. Two of the patients received ventriculoperitoneal shunts and had evidence of type II Chiari malformation on magnetic resonance imaging. No evidence of a Chiari malformation was revealed in the thir d patient. We discuss the etiology of the rare coexistence of these tw o major malformations.