Geographical distribution of fronto-ethmoidal encephalomeningocele.

Abstract

Congenital malformations are among the most distressing diseases that affect mankind.Attempts to reconstruct the major anomalies have only limited success.Malformations affecting the brain are usually associated with some degree of mental deficiency.The recognition of causative agents such as infection, drugs, and genetic abnormalities offers some hope toward their prevention.Unfortunately the causative mechanism has been established in only a small proportion of human congenital malformations.Many investigations of the geographical dis- tribution of anencephalus and defects of closure of the neural tube have been reported.Many of these reports, however, group all meningoceles of the spine and head together.The incidence of spina bifida shows a peculiar geographical pattern.The highest rates were found in Belfast (Stevenson, Johnston, Stewart, and Golding, 1966a) and Dublin (Coffey and Jessop, 1955), being 4*69 and 4 2 per 1,000 births respectively.Rates in western Europe