Contents -- Chapter 1 Introduction -- Chapter 2 Pathogenesis -- Explaining neural induction at the molecular level -- Neurulation -- Primary neurulation -- Secondary neurulation -- Suggested Readings -- Chapter 3 Classification -- Anatomical Classification of Neural Tube Defects -- Cranial defects -- Spinal defects -- Embryological Classification -- Cranial defects -- Spinal defects -- Part I Spinal Defects -- Chapter 4 Myelomeningocele -- Introduction -- Incidence -- Epidemiology -- Decline in prevalence -- Impact of folic acid on MMCL -- Racial difference in spite of immigration factors persists -- Patterns of variation -- Prenatal Diagnosis -- Types of antenatal screening -- AFP -- Maternal AFP level -- Acetylcholine esterase -- Role of ultrasound in antenatal diagnosis of myelomeningocele -- Fetal Surgery -- Delivery -- Assessment of Newborn with Myelomeningocele -- Cerebral function -- Cranial nerve assessment -- Spinal cord function -- Bowel and bladder function -- Orthopedic perspective -- Diagnostic Investigations -- Urodynamics -- Differential Diagnosis -- Initial Preparations for Surgery -- Surgery -- Delayed Surgery -- CNS Structures in Patients with MMCL -- Brain -- Skull and Osseous signs -- Dural signs -- Spinal cord -- Pathologies Associated with MMCL -- Hydrocephalus -- Chiari type II malformation -- Pathogenesis of Chiari Malformation in MMCL -- Latex allergy -- Asthma -- Anaphylaxis -- Endocrine -- Respiratory -- Neuro-opthalmology -- Neurocognitive -- Orthopedic -- Urological -- Epilepsy -- Obesity -- Hematology -- Sexual functions in men with MMCL -- Suggested Readings -- Chapter 5 Occult Spinal Bifida -- Introduction -- Incidence -- Skin Markers of Occult Spinal Dysraphism -- Mass at lumbosacral region -- Simple dimple vs. atypical dimple -- Hypertrichosis -- Deviated gluteal cleft -- Radiological Investigations.

Categories of Risk of OSD with Skin Markers -- Chapter 6 Cervical Spinal Dysraphism -- Introduction -- Incidence -- Clinical Features -- Outcome -- Thoracic dysraphism -- Chapter 7 Lipomyelomeningocele -- Introduction -- Definition -- Incidence and Prevalence -- Inheritance Pattern -- Embryology -- Virchow, Chiari and Von Recklinghausen theory -- Taubner theory -- Ehni and Love theory -- McLone and Naidich theory -- Classification (by Chapman) -- Dorsal lipomyelomeningocele -- Caudal lipomyelomeningocele -- Transitional lipoma -- Histopathology -- Associated Pathological Features -- Spinal malformations -- Vertebral anomalies -- Visceral malformation -- Brain anomalies -- Clinical Presentation -- Age of presentation -- Clinical presentations of spinal lipomas -- Cutaneous markers -- Examination of subcutaneous mass in infant with spinal lipoma -- Neurological Features -- Age of presentation -- Common precipitating factors -- Natural History of Lipomyelomeningocele -- Diagnostic Imaging -- Antenatal diagnosis -- Postnatal imaging -- Definitions of Variants of Spinal Dysraphism Associated with Spinal Lipoma -- Lipomyelocele/Lipomyeloschisis -- Lipomyelocystocele -- Surgery -- Suggested Readings -- Chapter 8 Meningocele -- Definition -- Incidence -- Location -- Genetics -- Embryology -- Pathogenesis of Non-dysraphic Meningocele -- Variants of Meningocele -- Myelocystocele -- Currarino triad and anterior sacral meningocele (ASM) -- Antenatal Diagnosis -- Clinical Presentations -- Surgery -- Suggested Readings -- Chapter 9 Hemimyelomeningocele -- Definition -- Incidence -- Embryology -- Clinical Presentation -- Suggested Reading -- Chapter 10 Diastematomyelia -- Definition -- Historical Review -- Incidence -- Geographical incidence -- Age of Presentation -- Genetic Basis -- Embryology -- Persistence of accessory neurenteric canal (ANC).

Bremmer et al. theory -- Pang et al. theory -- Persistence of the intermediate part of ANC -- Clinical Classification Based on Embryologic Origin -- Classification Based on Radiological Diagnosis -- Anatomical Localization of the Cleft -- Pathophysiology of SCM -- Complex Spinal Dysraphism -- Secondary anatomical causes of tethering of conus medullaris in SCM -- Mechanisms of Cord Dysfunction by Tethering -- Syndromes Associated with Split Cord Malformation -- Klippel-Feil deformity and cervical diastematomyelia -- Jarcho-Levin syndrome (spondylocostal dysplasia) -- Sacral agenesis syndrome -- Inencephaly -- Tumors Associated with Diastematomyelia -- Extrarenal Wilms tumor -- Teratoma -- Cerebellar heterotopias -- Neurenteric cyst -- Associated Visceral Anomalies -- Antenatal Diagnosis of Split Cord Malformation -- Clinical Manifestations -- Children with SCM -- Adult onset -- Radiological Investigations -- Surgery -- Suggested Readings -- Chapter 11 Terminal Myelocystocele -- Definition -- Non-terminal myelocystocele -- Epidemiology -- Theories Explaining Origin of Terminal Myelocystocele -- McLone and Naidich theory -- Clinical Presentation -- Examination of the lumbosacral mass and its differentials -- Examination findings -- Associated visceral anomalies -- Diagnostic Investigation -- Management -- Suggested Readings -- Chapter 12 Caudal Regression Syndrome -- Definition -- Historical Review -- Incidence -- Molecular Genetics and Genetic Counseling -- Embryology -- Association of Diabetes and Caudal Regression Syndrome -- Pathology of Caudal Regression Syndrome -- Associated Visceral Anomalies in Caudal Regression Syndrome -- Pathogenesis of Clinical Picture in CRS -- Classification -- Prognosis -- Diagnosis -- Antenatal -- Postnatal evaluation -- Differential diagnosis -- Clinical Case -- Anterior myelomeningocele with caudal regression syndrome.

Suggested Readings -- Chapter 13 Dorsal Enteric Fistula -- Introduction -- Definition -- Embryology -- Classification -- Histopathological examination of remnant of enteric origin -- Types of posterior enteric remnants -- Clinical features -- Management -- Suggested Readings -- Chapter 14 Segmental Spinal Dysgenesis Syndrome -- Definition -- Embryology -- Explaining SSD at the Molecular Level -- Pathogenesis -- Clinical Presentation -- Diagnostic Investigations -- MRI imaging of the spine -- Associated Closed Spinal Dysraphism with SSD -- Treatment Planning -- Syndromes with Similar Presentation to SSD -- Suggested Readings -- Chapter 15 Neurenteric Cyst -- Definition -- Demography -- Wilkins and Odum Classification -- Embryology -- Clinical Presentation -- Associated spinal and vertebral anomaly -- Diagnostic Investigation -- Management -- Suggested Readings -- Chapter 16 Dermal Sinus -- Definition -- Incidence -- Historical Review -- Embryogenesis -- Clinical Manifestations -- Associated conditions -- Neurological manifestations -- Management -- Suggested Readings -- Chapter 17 Thickened Filum Terminal Syndrome -- Introduction -- Embryogenesis -- Defect in secondary neurulation -- Origin of fat in the filum and its implication -- Pathophysiology of Thickened Filum Terminal Syndrome -- Clinical Presentation -- Suggested Readings -- Chapter 18 Tethered Cord Syndrome -- Definition -- Historical Perspective -- Embryology -- Lipomyelomeningocele -- Thick filum terminale -- Terminal myelocystocele -- Secondary Tethered Cord Syndrome -- Criteria for Diagnosis of Tethered Cord Syndrome -- Pathogenesis of Tethered Cord Syndrome -- Conclusion from the animal model experiments -- Explaining TCS at the Neuroanatomical Level -- Vascular compromise -- Neurophysiological basis of symptoms in TCS -- Biochemical basis of TCS -- Conclusion -- Clinical Presentations.

Role of videourodynamics -- Urological assessment during the first three years of life in a child with TCS -- Complications of bladder dysfunction in children with TCS -- Differential diagnosis of urinary incontinence in children: Hinman syndrome -- TCS-associated syndromes -- Diagnostic Investigations of TCS -- Ancillary tests -- Surgery -- Clinical outcome after untethering of cord -- Secondary tethered cord syndrome in MMCL children with repair of defect at birth -- Suggested Readings -- Chapter 19 Syringomyelia -- Definition -- Historical Perspective -- Incidence and Prevalence of Syrinx -- Site involved -- Classification -- Etiological classification -- Modified Barnett classification -- Origin of Syringomyelia -- Classical theories of formation of syrinx -- Gardner's hydrodynamic theory of formation of syrinx -- Williams' craniospinal dissociation theory -- Piston theory of formation of syringomyelia -- Pathophysiology of Syringomyelia -- Pathological finding -- Neurophysiology -- Clinical picture -- Explaining this classical picture from anatomical correlation -- Central cavities with paracentral extensions and eccentric cavities -- Clinical Presentations -- Sensory examination -- Motor examination findings -- Torticollis -- Bladder complaints -- Orthopedic features -- Autonomic disturbance -- Differential Diagnosis -- Conditions which masquerade as syringomyelia -- Treatment -- Suggested Readings -- Part II Cranial Defects -- Chapter 20 Anencephaly -- Definition -- Historical Perspective -- Incidence and Prevalence -- Molecular Genetics -- Classification -- Embryology -- Pathological Features of the Anencephalic Infant -- Head -- Note -- Spine -- Bony Abnormalities -- Musculoskeletal extremities -- Cardiorespiratory system -- Gastrointestinal system -- Endocrine system -- Differential diagnosis.

Survival of Anencephalic Infants: Role of Ethics.