Disorder - Cranioschisis

Organ Systems Involved
Musculoskeletal

Alternative disorders described within LIDA

Encephalocoele, Meningoencephalocoele, Craniorhachisis

Alternative Names
Cranium bifidium

Presenting Signs

Newborn kittens will have palpable soft areas on their skulls which are small slits and disappear with maturity. Cranioschisis is a congenital disorder where there is defective fusion of the bones of the skull. Kittens affected with cranioschisis, however, will have larger spots that increase in size as the skull bones grow. Kittens with this disorder are either stillborn or fail to thrive like their littermates and die within a few weeks of birth. The disorder is normally associated with abnormal development of the brain.

Cats at Risk

This is not a sex-related disorder. Kittens born to short-nosed and dome-headed dams and sires are at an increased risk as they are more likely to be carriers.

PubMed References
Cranioschisis

Contributor
Kylie Grant