Diagnosis
Ultrasound during pregnancy will be done as early as 9 weeks in reported cases. But in Malaysia, it is always diagnosed late as the ultrasound were performed late.
Amniocentesis done at 15 weeks (but rarely performed now as ultrasound is available). Fluid will be taken from the womb and the levels of alpha-fetoprotein will be measured. If the level is high, that will indicate the presence of neural tube defect.
Prognosis
Most anencephalic baby dies or are stillborn. Some may survive but will die in mere hours or days after birth. It is very rare to have anencephalic babies surviving more than that duration.
As for the mother, she will have the risk of caesarean due to abnormal lie of fetus.
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