Myelomeningocele (MMC): Open (lacking skin covering) spinal dysraphism in which neural placode (exposed flattened end of elongated spinal cord) protrudes beyond skin surface dorsal to spinal canal
MC: Open spinal dysraphism with neural placode flush with skin surface
IMAGING
General Features
Radiographic Findings
CT Findings
MR Findings
Ultrasonographic Findings
Imaging Recommendations
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
PATHOLOGY
General Features
Gross Pathologic & Surgical Features
CLINICAL ISSUES
Presentation
Demographics
Natural History & Prognosis
Treatment
DIAGNOSTIC CHECKLIST
Consider
Image Interpretation Pearls
Selected References
AlRefai A et al: Fetal myelomeningocele surgery: only treating the tip of the iceberg. Prenat Diagn. 39(1):10-5, 2019
Nagaraj UD et al: Myelomeningocele versus myelocele on fetal MR images: are there differences in brain findings? AJR Am J Roentgenol. 211(6):1376-80, 2018
Nagaraj UD et al: Spinal imaging findings of open spinal dysraphisms on fetal and postnatal MRI. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 39(10):1947-52, 2018
Nagaraj UD et al: Hindbrain herniation in Chiari II malformation on fetal and postnatal MRI. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 38(5):1031-6, 2017
Caldarelli M et al: Recurrent tethered cord: radiological investigation and management. Childs Nerv Syst. 29(9):1601-9, 2013
Messing-Jünger M et al: Primary and secondary management of the Chiari II malformation in children with myelomeningocele. Childs Nerv Syst. 29(9):1553-62, 2013
Sweeney KJ et al: Spinal level of myelomeningocele lesion as a contributing factor in posterior fossa volume, intracranial cerebellar volume, and cerebellar ectopia. J Neurosurg Pediatr. 11(2):154-9, 2013
Barkovich AJ et al: Pediatric Neuroimaging. 5th ed. Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. 863-70, 2012
Jernigan SC et al: Risk factors of sudden death in young adult patients with myelomeningocele. J Neurosurg Pediatr. 9(2):149-55, 2012
Adzick NS et al: A randomized trial of prenatal versus postnatal repair of myelomeningocele. N Engl J Med. 364(11):993-1004, 2011
Chao TT et al: Fetal spine findings on MRI and associated outcomes in children with open neural tube defects. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 197(5):W956-61, 2011
Rufener SL et al: Congenital spine and spinal cord malformations--pictorial review. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 194(3 Suppl):S26-37, 2010
Hirose S et al: Fetal surgery for myelomeningocele. Clin Perinatol. 36(2):431-8, xi, 2009
Hirose S et al: Fetal surgery for myelomeningocele: panacea or peril? World J Surg. 27(1):87-94, 2003
Johnson MP et al: Fetal myelomeningocele repair: short-term clinical outcomes. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 189(2):482-7, 2003
Ertl-Wagner B et al: Fetal magnetic resonance imaging: indications, technique, anatomical considerations and a review of fetal abnormalities. Eur Radiol. 12(8):1931-40, 2002
Rintoul NE et al: A new look at myelomeningoceles: functional level, vertebral level, shunting, and the implications for fetal intervention. Pediatrics. 109(3):409-13, 2002
Trivedi J et al: Clinical and radiographic predictors of scoliosis in patients with myelomeningocele. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 84-A(8):1389-94, 2002
Bowman RM et al: Spina bifida outcome: a 25-year prospective. Pediatr Neurosurg. 34(3):114-20, 2001
Tortori-Donati P et al: Spinal dysraphism: a review of neuroradiological features with embryological correlations and proposal for a new classification. Neuroradiology. 42(7):471-91, 2000
Unsinn KM et al: US of the spinal cord in newborns: spectrum of normal findings, variants, congenital anomalies, and acquired diseases. Radiographics. 20(4):923-38, 2000
Myelomeningocele (MMC): Open (lacking skin covering) spinal dysraphism in which neural placode (exposed flattened end of elongated spinal cord) protrudes beyond skin surface dorsal to spinal canal
MC: Open spinal dysraphism with neural placode flush with skin surface
IMAGING
General Features
Radiographic Findings
CT Findings
MR Findings
Ultrasonographic Findings
Imaging Recommendations
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
PATHOLOGY
General Features
Gross Pathologic & Surgical Features
CLINICAL ISSUES
Presentation
Demographics
Natural History & Prognosis
Treatment
DIAGNOSTIC CHECKLIST
Consider
Image Interpretation Pearls
Selected References
AlRefai A et al: Fetal myelomeningocele surgery: only treating the tip of the iceberg. Prenat Diagn. 39(1):10-5, 2019
Nagaraj UD et al: Myelomeningocele versus myelocele on fetal MR images: are there differences in brain findings? AJR Am J Roentgenol. 211(6):1376-80, 2018
Nagaraj UD et al: Spinal imaging findings of open spinal dysraphisms on fetal and postnatal MRI. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 39(10):1947-52, 2018
Nagaraj UD et al: Hindbrain herniation in Chiari II malformation on fetal and postnatal MRI. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 38(5):1031-6, 2017
Caldarelli M et al: Recurrent tethered cord: radiological investigation and management. Childs Nerv Syst. 29(9):1601-9, 2013
Messing-Jünger M et al: Primary and secondary management of the Chiari II malformation in children with myelomeningocele. Childs Nerv Syst. 29(9):1553-62, 2013
Sweeney KJ et al: Spinal level of myelomeningocele lesion as a contributing factor in posterior fossa volume, intracranial cerebellar volume, and cerebellar ectopia. J Neurosurg Pediatr. 11(2):154-9, 2013
Barkovich AJ et al: Pediatric Neuroimaging. 5th ed. Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. 863-70, 2012
Jernigan SC et al: Risk factors of sudden death in young adult patients with myelomeningocele. J Neurosurg Pediatr. 9(2):149-55, 2012
Adzick NS et al: A randomized trial of prenatal versus postnatal repair of myelomeningocele. N Engl J Med. 364(11):993-1004, 2011
Chao TT et al: Fetal spine findings on MRI and associated outcomes in children with open neural tube defects. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 197(5):W956-61, 2011
Rufener SL et al: Congenital spine and spinal cord malformations--pictorial review. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 194(3 Suppl):S26-37, 2010
Hirose S et al: Fetal surgery for myelomeningocele. Clin Perinatol. 36(2):431-8, xi, 2009
Hirose S et al: Fetal surgery for myelomeningocele: panacea or peril? World J Surg. 27(1):87-94, 2003
Johnson MP et al: Fetal myelomeningocele repair: short-term clinical outcomes. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 189(2):482-7, 2003
Ertl-Wagner B et al: Fetal magnetic resonance imaging: indications, technique, anatomical considerations and a review of fetal abnormalities. Eur Radiol. 12(8):1931-40, 2002
Rintoul NE et al: A new look at myelomeningoceles: functional level, vertebral level, shunting, and the implications for fetal intervention. Pediatrics. 109(3):409-13, 2002
Trivedi J et al: Clinical and radiographic predictors of scoliosis in patients with myelomeningocele. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 84-A(8):1389-94, 2002
Bowman RM et al: Spina bifida outcome: a 25-year prospective. Pediatr Neurosurg. 34(3):114-20, 2001
Tortori-Donati P et al: Spinal dysraphism: a review of neuroradiological features with embryological correlations and proposal for a new classification. Neuroradiology. 42(7):471-91, 2000
Unsinn KM et al: US of the spinal cord in newborns: spectrum of normal findings, variants, congenital anomalies, and acquired diseases. Radiographics. 20(4):923-38, 2000
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