Myelomeningocele vs. Meningocele

Left picture: Here, a myelomenigocele is present with a partial and far-advanced epithelization and opacitiy of the arachnoid, although the child is only a few hours old. Right picture: It is an unusual type of meningocele which in this case is not covered by normally looking skin as it usually occurs as in the picture at the bottom, but only insufficiently covered by an epithelial layer. At surgery a cystic cavity filled with CSF was found with a stalk-like continuation to the spinal arachnoid space. Left picture: Apart from the presence of possible neurological deficits and their patterns, and the results of the preoperative radiological imaging with ultrasound and MRI, the presence of solid structures at the top of such masses in the picture speaks for a myelomeningocele. The differentiation between the two types of dysraphic malformations may be difficult (myelomeningocele versus meningocele) if the cystic part is ruptured and the content is drained off; compare with the picture at the bottom of the same side.

Left picture: Sacral cystic structure in a newborn which shows a reddish discoloration in the periphery and a white discoloration in the center. At the top of the cyst a solid, not definable structure is visible. Right picture: The cystic and semi-spherical mass over the sacrum of this newborn is partially covered by a fine skin layer.