Cephalocele

Codes

ICD-10

Q01

ICD-11

LA01 Cephalocele

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

Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine.

Next to it in ICD-10

• P95Stillbirth (cause not specified)
• P96Other conditions starting around birth
• Q00Anencephaly
• Q02Microcephaly
• Q03Congenital hydrocephalus, unspecified
• Q04Other congenital brain malformations

Neighbouring codes in the classification, not a medical link.

External resources

• MedlinePlus — Neural Tube Defects
• MedlinePlus — Defectos del tubo neural (es)
• WHO — ICD-10 Q01
• WHO — ICD-11 LA01