Encephalocele/Meningocele
An encephalocele is a region of herniated brain. The term meningocele refers to herniated dura (covering of the brain).
Complications for Encephalocele/Meningocele
The symptoms of an encephalocele or meningocele are watery discharge from a tube in the eardrum, watery discharge from the nose, and/or headaches. The watery discharge is spinal fluid that finds its way from the surrounding brain tissue into the mastoid bone. The fluid then enters the middle ear and drains out of an inserted tympanostomy tube or drains down the Eustachian tube and out of the nose. Headaches occur from temporary loss of spinal fluid.
In all instances this condition requires surgical intervention to prevent meningitis and brain abscess.
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About Dr. Prasad
Dr. Sanjay Prasad MD FACS is a board certified physician and surgeon with over thirty-two years of sub-specialty experience in Otology, Neurotology, advanced head and neck oncologic surgery, and cranial base surgery. He is chief surgeon and founder of the private practice, Metropolitan NeuroEar Group, located in the metropolitan Washington D.C. area.