Antenatally diagnosed myelomeningocele with associated chiari ii malformation in the third trimester. A case report

Abstract

Myelomeningocele, a severe form of open neural tube defect which is mostly associated with Chiari II malformation remains a cause of adverse neonatal outcomes. Myelomeningocele is mostly detected in the second trimester and subsequently followed up in the third trimester. We present a case of myelomeningocele with associated Chiari II malformation that was diagnosed for the first time in the third trimester in a 32-year-old pregnant woman. Previously performed ultrasound at 12 weeks gestation was unremarkable. Considering the prognosis of the detected anomalies, the patient opted for medical termination of the pregnancy after receiving thorough counselling.

Third trimester anomaly screening should be encouraged as part of routine third trimester scans; particularly in women who report late for antenatal care and those who lack periconceptional folate supplementation.