Increasing Number of Unusual Brain Abnormalities Seen in Rural West Virginia

Abstract

The incidence rate of schizencephaly is 1.5 in 100,000 live births and the rate of holoprosencephaly is 1 in 16,000 live births. Both malformations are rare, but our institution has seen a dramatic increase in both malformations in recent years with no known cause. Schizencephaly is the most severe cortical malformation and holoprosencephaly is the most common defect in the prosencephalon during development however, it is still not very common to see a fetus with this defect live to delivery. Our institution seen four cases of schizencephaly and three cases of holoprosencephaly within two years. No two neonates seem to share a common factor. All had different co-morbidities and presentations, all mothers were different ages and showed few risk factors if any for these deformities. This paper is a report of the cases found of these rare birth defects seen at our institution in recent years.