Cyclopia Associated with Microcephaly, Hydrocephaly and Clubfoot: A Case Report from Burkina Faso, West Africa

Abstract

Cyclopia is the most severe form of alobar holoprosencephaly, characterized by the fusion of the two orbits into one. It is a genetic disease incompatible with life. It is most often associated with other craniofacial malformations such as microcephaly, cleft lip and palate, nasal agenesis and facial dysmorphia. The incidence of cyclopia varies from 1/13,000 to 1/20,000 births, and the etiology of this malformation has yet to be elucidated. These include genetic factors, multiparity, female gender, unexplained miscarriage, gestational diabetes, infections during pregnancy, UV radiation, smoking and alcohol consumption. It is probably less diagnosed in developing countries, where pregnancies are not normally monitored, and antenatal ultrasound is less common. We report the case of a 22-year-old pregnant woman, third gesture and two pares with two live children. She came on her own for a third-trimester ultrasound. She had a spontaneous pregnancy. She reported no previous history of a spontaneous pregnancy. Morphological ultrasound revealed cyclopia associated with microcephaly and hydrocephaly. We obtained informed consent from the couple. The patient exploded with a female fetus weighing 700 g, her cranial perimeter at 18 cm and thoracic perimeter at 34 cm. A clubfoot was noted on expulsion of the fetus, which is a particular feature of our case.