Double Meningocoele: Case Report And Anatomical Rationale

Congenital fusion defects of neural tube and associated tissues are classified as spinal dysraphism. Neural tube defects affect the tissues overlying the spinal cord viz. meninges, vertebral arches, muscle and skin and are classified according to their degree of severity. Amongst the congenital defects of CNS, spins bifida cystica is the most common. However, its occurrence at multiple levels is a rare event. A search of medical data bases reveals less than 25 cases of these malformations reported worldwide. Two such rare cases of neural tube defect at two levels are being reported. The first case is unique, as it had defects at lower cervical and upper thoracic regions. Double meningocoele at cervicothoracic region has not been reported so far. While, the other had lumbar with lumbosacral defect. The normal development and the rationale behind such defects are also discussed and associated high incidence of anomalies.