Giant frontonasal encephalocele: surgical considerations through a clinical case and literature review.

Abstract

Introduction: Encephalocele is a congenital malformation of the central nervous system (CNS) characterized by the protrusion of neural tissue through a cranial defect. The frontonasal variant has a reported incidence of approximately 0.8 to 3 cases per 10,000 live births, making it a rare condition.

Case report: We present the case of a newborn girl prenatally diagnosed with a giant nasofrontal encephalocele without associated pathologies. Following complementary studies for surgical planning, she underwent surgery at 72 h of life, performed by a multidisciplinary team, to prevent significant functional sequelae and promote normal growth and development.

Conclusion: Nasofrontal encephalocele is a rare type of neural tube defect, posing a significant challenge for the interdisciplinary team responsible for its management.