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A Study of Neural Tube Defects in a Perinatal Autopsy Series


Affiliations
1 Dept. of Pathology, North Bengal Medical College, Darjeeling, West Bengal, India
2 Dept. of Pathology,Sagar Dutta Medical College, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
3 Dept. of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, College of Medicine & JNM Hospital, Kalyani, Nadia, West Bengal, India
     

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The literature on neural tube defect is exhaustive but only few autopsy studies are reported in India about neural tube defects.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore the incidence and characteristics of NTDs in a perinatal autopsy series and to describe the frequency of associated morphologic anomalies.

Material & Methods: It was a prospective study done in India where 125 perinatal autopsies performed during the period from July 2010 to Oct 2011 after taking written consent from parents out of which 60 came out as having NTDs.

The result emerged as:-

NTD types: Spina Bifida type- 58.33%, Cranioschisis type- 41.67%.

NTD location: Lumbosacral-40%, cranium-33.33%,lumbar-11.67%,occipital-8.34%,sacral-5%, Thoracolumbar- 1.66%.

NTD in relation to maternal age: 40yrs-6.66%. NTD in relation to maternal parity: Gravida 1-50%, Gravida 2-25%, Gravida >2- 25%.

NTD in relation to gestational age: 32%- 25%.

NTD in relation to degree of consanguity: 0-66.66%, 1- 1.68%, 2- 25%,3- 6.66%.

NTD in relation to sex of the baby: Female-58.33%, Male-41.67%.

NTD with associated morphological anomalies: Most common anomaly was of CNS. Most common non-CNS anomaly was of skeletal system followed by urogenital system.

Conclusion: Incidence of neural tube defect much higher in India than other developing countries which need national intervention. To know the chance of recurrence in future pregnancy and for genetic counselling, autopsy is must for those babies who die due to NTD.


Keywords

Neural Tube Defect, Perinatal Autopsy, Morphologic Anomalies
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  • A Study of Neural Tube Defects in a Perinatal Autopsy Series

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Authors

Rajashree Pradhan
Dept. of Pathology, North Bengal Medical College, Darjeeling, West Bengal, India
Sajeeb Mondal
Dept. of Pathology,Sagar Dutta Medical College, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Shouvanik Adhya
Dept. of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, College of Medicine & JNM Hospital, Kalyani, Nadia, West Bengal, India

Abstract


The literature on neural tube defect is exhaustive but only few autopsy studies are reported in India about neural tube defects.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore the incidence and characteristics of NTDs in a perinatal autopsy series and to describe the frequency of associated morphologic anomalies.

Material & Methods: It was a prospective study done in India where 125 perinatal autopsies performed during the period from July 2010 to Oct 2011 after taking written consent from parents out of which 60 came out as having NTDs.

The result emerged as:-

NTD types: Spina Bifida type- 58.33%, Cranioschisis type- 41.67%.

NTD location: Lumbosacral-40%, cranium-33.33%,lumbar-11.67%,occipital-8.34%,sacral-5%, Thoracolumbar- 1.66%.

NTD in relation to maternal age: 40yrs-6.66%. NTD in relation to maternal parity: Gravida 1-50%, Gravida 2-25%, Gravida >2- 25%.

NTD in relation to gestational age: 32%- 25%.

NTD in relation to degree of consanguity: 0-66.66%, 1- 1.68%, 2- 25%,3- 6.66%.

NTD in relation to sex of the baby: Female-58.33%, Male-41.67%.

NTD with associated morphological anomalies: Most common anomaly was of CNS. Most common non-CNS anomaly was of skeletal system followed by urogenital system.

Conclusion: Incidence of neural tube defect much higher in India than other developing countries which need national intervention. To know the chance of recurrence in future pregnancy and for genetic counselling, autopsy is must for those babies who die due to NTD.


Keywords


Neural Tube Defect, Perinatal Autopsy, Morphologic Anomalies

References