Mazzitelli Nancy, Vauthay Liliana, Oliveri Jaen, Maccarone Belen, Rittler Monica
Pathology Unit, Department of Diagnostics, Hospital Materno Infantil Ramón Sardá, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Pediatr Dev Pathol. 2012 Jul-Aug;15(4):333-8. doi: 10.2350/11-12-1132-CR.1. Epub 2012 Jun 5.
Complete absence of the fetal head in singleton pregnancies is a very rare defect; to our knowledge there are only 7 reported cases. Decapitation by amniotic bands has been considered as the most probable cause. However, in none of the described cases except one were amniotic bands, constriction rings, or other related findings observed, raising the possibility that mechanisms other than amputation by amniotic bands are involved. We present a further case of acephaly and discuss the role of amniotic bands and alternative mechanisms of decapitation and a possible sequence of events leading to acephaly.
