Anencephaly
Also known as: Anencephaly or similar anomalies, unspecified
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In short
Neural tube defects are birth defects of the brain, spine, or spinal cord that occur in the first month of pregnancy. In anencephaly, most of the brain and skull do not develop, and affected babies are usually stillborn or die shortly after birth. Other related defects include spina bifida, where the fetal spinal column does not close completely, and Chiari malformation, which causes brain tissue to extend into the spinal canal. There is no cure for these defects, and the resulting nerve damage and loss of function present at birth are usually permanent.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine.
AI-generated summary of the sources cited on this page, checked automatically against them. Not reviewed by a clinician; not medical advice.
Codes
Description
Neural tube defects are birth defects of the brain, spine, or spinal cord. They happen in the first month of pregnancy, often before a woman even knows that she is pregnant. The two most common neural tube defects are spina bifida and anencephaly. In spina bifida, the fetal spinal column doesn't close completely. There is usually nerve damage that causes at least some paralysis of the legs. In anencephaly, most of the brain and skull do not develop. Babies with anencephaly are usually either stillborn or die shortly after birth. Another type of defect, Chiari malformation, causes the brain tissue to extend into the spinal canal.
The exact causes of neural tube defects aren't known. You're at greater risk of having an infant with a neural tube defect if you:
- Have obesity
- Have poorly controlled diabetes
- Take certain antiseizure medicines
Getting enough folic acid, a type of B vitamin, before and during pregnancy prevents most neural tube defects.
Neural tube defects are usually diagnosed before the infant is born, through lab or imaging tests. There is no cure for neural tube defects. The nerve damage and loss of function that are present at birth are usually permanent. However, a variety of treatments can sometimes prevent further damage and help with complications.
NIH: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Next to it in ICD-10
- P92Feeding problems in newborns
- P95Stillbirth (cause not specified)
- P96Other conditions starting around birth
- Q01Cephalocele
- Q02Microcephaly
- Q03Congenital hydrocephalus, unspecified
Neighbouring codes in the classification, not a medical link.
External resources
Questions
What is the ICD-10 code for Anencephaly?
Q00 (WHO, International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision).
What is the ICD-11 code for Anencephaly?
LA00.Z: Anencephaly or similar anomalies, unspecified (WHO, ICD-11 for Mortality and Morbidity Statistics).
Sources and attribution
- ICD-11 for Mortality and Morbidity Statistics, © World Health Organization, licensed under CC BY-ND 3.0 IGO.
- Names other than the official source titles: Anpheros translations and plain-language names, made with AI assistance and checked automatically; the source names are in English.
- Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine.
- ICD-10 codes and titles © World Health Organization. Source: WHO, International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (2019).
Anpheros Search catalog 2026.10.5, published 17 October 2026. About the data →
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