Atretic parietal cephalocele associated with sinus pericranii: embryological consideration.

We report a case of atretic parietal cephalocele with a persistent parietal falcine sinus and partial absence of the straight sinus. The direct puncture angiographic study demonstrated that there was a major venous channel through the parietal skull defect. From the embryological point of view, this association may provide us with possible pathoetiologic evidence of congenital sinus pericranii is one of the alternative venous drainage pathways to compensate venous outflow in the cases of intracranial developmental anomalies.