@Article{, title={Radiological study of Neural Tube Defects (}, author={Saad .M .H. Alshahwani and Samira .A-H. Abdullah and Farah Essa Alrawi}, journal={The Medical Journal of Tikrit University المجلة الطبية لجامعة تكريت}, volume={23}, number={1}, pages={158-168}, year={2017}, abstract={Neural tube defects (NTDs) are a group of severe congenital abnormalities result from the failure of closure of anterior neuropore or neural fold .The pattern of inheritance of these complex defects is multifactorial, making it difficult to identify the underlying causes.Recent studies have shown that the addition of folic acid (Vitamin B9) to the diet of child-bearing age women may significantly reduce although not eliminate, the incidence of NTDs.Imaging tests may be used to help in detection of defects in the developing fetuses. These may include: Ultrasonography, MRI and CT scan.During the period of the work, routine antenatal trans-abdominal ultrasound examination was made for 6720 outpatients’ women with missed period of 12-36 weeks in the private clinic during the period from september 2014 to october 2016 in Baghdad city.All patients are followed post deleivry. Thirty two patients were diagnosed as NTDs sonographically. Twenty nine cases were terminated according to the parent decision. Post-termination, MRI and CT scan was performed on 25 cases with anencephaly and encephalocele to show the extend of the brain tissue and the defect in the skull vault.Blood sample from 200 pregnant women was aspirated in the laboratory for folic acid estimation. Pregnant woman who taking folic acid preconception were excluded, Among the cases 82.4% of them were with low folic acid level.The frequency of NTDs in the present work was 0.47%, the majority of cases was anencephaly 17 (53%) followed by encephalocele 8(25%) and the spina bifida 7(22%).

} }