Congenial Maldevelopments as a Cause of Hydrocephalus

Abstract

The incidence of congenital malformation is difficult to gauge accurately. In Philadelphia, in the late 1930's, 2.9% of 7,478 cases of still-birth had malformations recorded on the death certificates. About the same time, a rate of 20.2% was derived from autopsy reports on 435 still-births in Edinburgh. The percentage of children who died in the neonatal period with abnormalities varied between 10.5% in Edinburgh, in Glasgow and 13% in Belfast. There has been no increase in the incidence of congenital defect recently.

Hydrocephalus comes second to anencephaly as a cause of death from congenital abnormality.

The rarity of malformations causing hydrocephalus makes elucidation of aetiology difficult. but significant correlation has been found in some instances.