When an encephalocele occurs at the top of the skull, between the back and the front, it's called a parietal encephalocele. These are less common than occipital encephaloceles and often carry a different outlook.
What it is
A parietal encephalocele appears as a sac at the top/upper part of the head along or near the midline. As with all encephaloceles, the contents — fluid and membranes versus brain tissue — matter more than the location alone.
Outlook compared with occipital
Research comparing locations generally finds that parietal encephaloceles tend to have a more favorable outlook than occipital ones. In some series, psychomotor (developmental) problems are considerably less common with parietal than with occipital encephaloceles. Part of this difference relates to the contents and to associated hydrocephalus, which tends to be less frequent with parietal location — though individual cases vary.
For many small parietal encephaloceles (and the atretic variety discussed separately), surgery is undertaken largely for cosmetic and protective reasons, with a generally good developmental outlook when little or no functional brain tissue is involved.
What still needs evaluation
A favorable location is reassuring but not a guarantee. Parietal encephaloceles still require:
- Detailed MRI to assess contents and brain formation
- Evaluation for hydrocephalus and other findings
- Surgical repair to close the defect and protect the area
- Follow-up to monitor development
Sources
- Child's Nervous System / peer-reviewed literature — parietal vs occipital outcomes
- StatPearls (NCBI Bookshelf) — Encephalocele
- Cleveland Clinic — Encephalocele
- CHOP — Encephalocele