CRANIOCEPHALIC DISPROPORTION WITH INCREASED INTRACRANIAL-PRESSURE ANDBRAIN HERNIATION - A NEW CLINICAL SYNDROME IN ANEMIC PATIENTS - REPORT OF 2 CASES

OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE: We describe a new clinical syndrome in two p atients with chronic anemia. The major manifestation of the syndrome i s herniation of the brain resulting in death caused by longstanding cr aniocephalic disproportion. The disproportion was caused by extreme th ickening of the cranium because of erythroid hyperplasia. CLINICAL PRE SENTATION: Two patients with known chronic anemia presented with chron ic increase in intracranial pressure with acute deterioration resultin g in brain herniation. INTERVENTION: Despite maximum medical therapy, both patients died as a result of uncontrollable increase in intracran ial pressure. CONCLUSION: Patients with chronic anemia presenting with progressive headaches should be monitored for this newly described cl inical phenomenon.