[Hydroanencephaly].

The clinical and X-ray findings in 9 infants with total and in one infant with unilateral forms of hydroanencephaly are discussed. This rare anomaly of the central nervous system is interesting from several standpoints: study of the etiopathogenic mechanisms responsible for atrophy of the hemispheres; study of different clinical phenomena in the absence of the cerebral hemispheres; study of c.s.f. changes in the absence of cerebral parenchyma; differential diagnosis with other pathological conditions, with extreme degree of hydrocephalus in the first place, which is very important for the therapeutic approach and prognosis. Attention is focus ed on the specific features of the clinical course, computer tomography (CT), angiographic and PEG values in hydroanencephaly. The etiopathogenesis of this severe pathological condition of the central nervous system is discussed on the basis of data in the literature.