Misclassified or misunderstood: what does anencephaly really mean?

Malik, Rehan and Tyler, Jacqueline ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0002-5396-3380 (2025) Misclassified or misunderstood: what does anencephaly really mean? In: UK Imaging and Oncology Congress 2025 (UKIO 2025): Community & Consciousness: One Health, 2-4 June 2025, Liverpool ACC, UK. (Unpublished)

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Abstract

The ultrasound work-force is experiencing inconsistencies in prenatal reporting and diagnosis within the Acrania-Exencephaly-Anencephaly Sequence (AEAS). Anencephaly is a fatal neural tube defect characterised by the complete absence of the cerebral hemispheres, including the cranial vault. Despite being a distinct diagnosis within this spectrum of neural tube defects, Anencephaly is commonly misclassified in clinical practice as an umbrella term to describe all stages of AEAS. Variations in referring to specific stages of AEAS as ‘Anencephaly’ is widespread leading to diagnostic errors and inconsistencies in ultrasound reporting. This directly impacts decisions around management options, patient counselling and termination of pregnancy taking an emotional toll on both clinical staff and anxious patients. Anencephaly is a fatal neural tube defect (NTD) which is incompatible with life, characterised by the incomplete development or absence of a substantial portion of the brain tissue, calvarium and spinal cord. This congenital anomaly develops when the rostral portion of the neural tube fails to close during early embryogenesis. As one of the most common and severe types of NTD’s, Anencephaly also represents a profound disruption in the complete development of the central nervous system. As gestation progresses, the fetal head and brain despite its limited presence, varies from moderate to severely abnormal representation on Ultrasound imaging.

Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Poster)
Departments:	Institute of Health > Medical Sciences
Depositing User:	Jacqueline Tyler
Date Deposited:	17 Jun 2025 11:17
Last Modified:	24 Jun 2025 13:15
URI:	https://insight.cumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/8924

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