Myelomeningocele is commonly associated with which condition?

• A. Excessive CSF within the cranial cavity
• B. Abnormally small head
• C. Congenital absence of the cranial vault
• D. Overriding of the cranial sutures

Answer: (A)

Myelomeningocele is often linked with hydrocephalus, meaning there is excess CSF accumulating in the brain’s ventricles. This association comes from the frequent presence of Arnold-Chiari II malformation in these patients, which disrupts CSF flow and can block drainage, leading to enlarged ventricles. Clinically, this may show as a rapidly increasing head size in infants, a tense or bulging fontanelle, irritability, vomiting, or sunset eyes, and it commonly requires monitoring and intervention such as a ventriculoperitoneal shunt.

The other options describe conditions not typically connected to myelomeningocele: a very small head (microcephaly); congenital absence of the cranial vault (anencephaly); and premature fusion of cranial sutures (craniosynostosis). These do not align with the usual complication pattern seen with myelomeningocele.