Spontaneous closure of bony defect in a frontoethmoidal encephalomeningocele patient.

The frontoethmoidal encephalomeningocele (FEEM) is a congenital herniation of meninges and brain tissue through the skull bony defect at the foramen cecum. The size of the defect may vary from a few millimeters to many. Those patients with a small defect may not always require a risky operation during childhood. We report on an infant whose bony defect has closed spontaneously with definite clinical evidence. It is proved that the skull defect and brain herniation are able to heal naturally, and this affirms an existence of the abortive subtype of FEE. Conservative treatment may be considered in those with a small bony defect, and surgery can be considered later when it is required.