Alive without a brain: Acrania/anencephaly, anhydraminios, abdominal-ascites, amelia and agenesis of the kidneys

Abstract

A gravid middle-aged woman viewed on ultrasound demonstrated a viable anencephalic fetus
at 25 weeks gestational age. The absence of the bilateral cerebral hemisphere, cranial vault,
anhydramnios, abdominal ascites, and phaco-rhizomelia was discovered. We discuss evidencebased quadra –amelia in a non-consanguineous (negroid) couple of a 25-week prenatal scan.
Apart from amelia on all four limbs, the fetus had abdominal ascites with other dysmorphic
features. Tetramelia is known to be caused by mutation of the WNTB gene; in close relative intermarriages. A diagnosis of ascites, amelia, anencephaly/acrania, and anhydramnios was made, and
the prognosis was documented in this report.