Cephaloceles are a form of neural tube disorders, in which the neural tube fails to close around the portion of the rostral neuropore. Thus, infants are born with a gap in their skulls, through which the brain tissue and meninges push through. The condition may be obvious as a skin covered sub-scalp lesion. Frontal cephaloceles extend into the root of the nose, whereas parietal forms present as hairless, well-marginated, scalp lesions, separated from the brain by the dura. In most cases, infants born with this condition have a poor prognosis and show mental impairment, or die early. Conditions like hydrocephaly and/or microcephaly may also accompany.
It is advised to conduct detailed neuro-imaging studies to understand the condition in each individual patient. CAT and MRI are the preferred methods. In most cases, prognosis depends, not only upon the existence of the cephalocele per se, but also on associated hidden brain abnormalities, not easily visible upon examination.