Cephaloceles in Center of Senegal: Analysis of 11 Cases

Introduction: Cephalocele is a herniation of brain tissue and/or its membranes due to a dehiscence of the skull. It can be presented as a meningocele, encephalocele, or meningoencephalocele. Objective: To share a series of cases of operated cephaloceles. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective observational study conducted at the Regional Hospital Center of Kaolack from February 1, 2022, to January 31, 2024. We analyzed clinical, radiological, therapeutic, and evolutionary data of all patients operated on for cephalocele. Results: We recorded 11 patients operated on for cephalocele over 23 months. The average age was 2 months, with extremes ranging from 6 days to 7 months. The sex ratio was 0.4. A history of consanguinity among parents was found in 7 out of 11 cases. Three mothers had no prenatal follow-up. Occipital location was predominant, and the average diameter of the neck was 7 cm. All patients underwent a brain CT scan, revealing an encephalocele in seven cases and a meningocele in four cases. Additionally, six out of seven patients had associated hydrocephalus. All patients were operated on, and a favorable outcome was obtained in seven patients. Four cases of reoperation were noted, among which we noted two cases of death. Conclusion: This malformation remains relevant, with its incidence linked to the socio-economic level of a country. The risk of morbidity and mortality is very high, emphasizing the need for good prenatal follow-up.