PurposeThe aim of this study was to highlight the challenges for early diagnosis and the difficulties observed in surgical treatment of patients with transsphenoidal meningoencephalocele associated with cleft lip and/or palate.MethodWe evaluated six male patients treated over the course of 4 years. Five patients presented encephalic herniation with nonfunctional brain tissue; one of these presented herniation of the pituitary gland and cerebral ventricles.ResultsAll the patients received surgical treatment for the cleft lip and/or palate. Only one patient underwent repair of the meningoencephalocele, via nasal endoscopy. There were no postprocedural clinical or surgical complications.ConclusionThe tendency is to avoid neurosurgery, opting for periodic follow-up with magnetic resonance imaging. In the presence of cleft palate, palatoplasty is essential to protect the meningoencephalocele. |