Case 7: Hydranencephaly

A 22-year-old pregnant woman, gravida 4 para 3 (with three normal children) presented at 34 gestational weeks for her first prenatal care visit. Ultrasonographic (US) images showed an enlarged head in a single, live fetus (Fig 1). One month later, the woman was delivered of a 4,870 g (10 lb 7 oz) boy by means of cesarean section. The newborn had a head circumference of 42 cm (normal 5 34.5 cm). Computed tomography (CT) of the newborn’s head was performed on day 2 (Fig 2).