Enlarged parietal foramina
Last updated 18 Aug 2020
Meets Patient’s editorial guidelines
- DownloadDownload
- Share
- Language
- Discussion
- Audio Version
- Add to preferred sources on Google
Enlarged parietal foramina is an inherited condition of impaired skull development. It is characterised by enlarged openings (foramina) in the parietal bones, which are the two bones that form the top and sides of the skull. This condition is due to incomplete bone formation (ossification) within the parietal bones. The openings are symmetrical and circular in shape, ranging in size from a few millimeters to several centimeters wide. Parietal foramina are a normal feature of fetal development, but typically they close before the baby is born, usually by the fifth month of pregnancy. However, in people with this condition, the parietal foramina remain open throughout life.
Description
Enlarged parietal foramina is an inherited condition of impaired skull development. It is characterised by enlarged openings (foramina) in the parietal bones, which are the two bones that form the top and sides of the skull. This condition is due to incomplete bone formation (ossification) within the parietal bones. The openings are symmetrical and circular in shape, ranging in size from a few millimeters to several centimeters wide. Parietal foramina are a normal feature of fetal development, but typically they close before the baby is born, usually by the fifth month of pregnancy. However, in people with this condition, the parietal foramina remain open throughout life.
The enlarged parietal foramina are soft to the touch due to the lack of bone at those areas of the skull. People with enlarged parietal foramina usually do not have any related health problems; however, scalp defects, seizures, and structural brain abnormalities have been noted in a small percentage of affected people. Pressure applied to the openings can lead to severe headaches, and individuals with this condition have an increased risk of brain damage or skull fractures if any trauma is experienced in the area of the openings.
There are two forms of enlarged parietal foramina, called type 1 and type 2, which differ in their genetic cause.
Inheritance patterns
The source lists the following possible inheritance patterns: Autosomal dominant. More than one pattern can apply in different cases.
Related genes
Other names
Catlin marks
Cranium bifidum
Cranium bifidum occultum
Fenestrae parietals symmetricae
Foramina parietalia permagna
FPP
Giant parietal foramina
Hereditary cranium bifidum
Parietal foramina
PFM
Symmetric parietal foramina
Related patient information and medicines
Patient information leaflet
Paget's disease of bone
Paget's disease of bone affects the structure of parts of one or more bones. In most cases it causes no symptoms and does not need treatment. Symptoms develop in some cases and pain in the affected part of bone is the most common symptom. Affected bones are weaker than normal and may become deformed and may break (fracture) more easily than.
Patient information leaflet
Congenital heart disease
Congenital heart disease is a condition where an abnormality (defect) develops in the heart before birth. There are a number of types of congenital heart defect. This is a hole in the wall (septum) between the two upper chambers of the heart (the left and right atria). Before birth, there is a connection between the two, called the foramen ovale..
Patient information leaflet
Atrial septal defect
Atrial septal defect (ASD) is a hole (defect) in the wall (septum) between the heart's two upper, or collecting, chambers (atria). One chamber is known as an atrium. The septum separates the heart's left and right side. However, in up to one in five healthy adults a small opening may remain. This is known as a patent foramen ovale (PFO). The ASD.
Patient information leaflet
Acromegaly
...s because growth hormone stimulates the growth of bones, and in children, bonesNote : the rest of this leaflet is about acromegaly in adults. Acromegaly symptoms Acromegaly comes from the Greek words akros (meaning extremity) and megas (meaning large) referring to the condition's characteristic enlarged hands and feet. It is useful to divide.
Patient information leaflet
Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia
This makes the cell abnormal. If the abnormal cell survives it may multiply out of control and develop into a leukaemia. In most cases of ALL, the reason why an immature lymphocyte becomes abnormal is not known. There are certain risk factors which increase the chance that leukaemia will develop. However, these only account for a small number of.
Patient information leaflet
Neck lumps and bumps
Neck lumps and bumps are common and they have many possible causes. They may arise from the skin or from structures underneath. What causes neck lumps. There are lots of different causes of neck lumps, which can develop from the many different structures in the neck. The most common cause of neck lumps is swollen, enlarged lymph nodes. Lymph nodes.
Further reading and references
- Enlarged parietal foramina; MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine.
- Edwards LS, Sachs JR, Elster AD. Skull fractures through parietal foramina: report of two cases. J Comput Assist Tomogr. 2012 May-Jun;36(3):308-9. doi: 10.1097/RCT.0b013e31824d9331.
- Fink AM, Maixner W. Enlarged parietal foramina: MR imaging features in the fetus and neonate. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2006 Jun-Jul;27(6):1379-81.
- Griessenauer CJ, Veith P, Mortazavi MM, Stewart C, Grochowsky A, Loukas M, Tubbs RS. Enlarged parietal foramina: a review of genetics, prognosis, radiology, and treatment. Childs Nerv Syst. 2013 Apr;29(4):543-7. doi: 10.1007/s00381-012-1982-7. Epub 2012 Dec 4.
- Mavrogiannis LA, Taylor IB, Davies SJ, Ramos FJ, Olivares JL, Wilkie AO. Enlarged parietal foramina caused by mutations in the homeobox genes ALX4 and MSX2: from genotype to phenotype. Eur J Hum Genet. 2006 Feb;14(2):151-8. doi: 10.1038/sj.ejhg.5201526.
- Reddy AT, Hedlund GL, Percy AK. Enlarged parietal foramina: association with cerebral venous and cortical anomalies. Neurology. 2000 Mar 14;54(5):1175-8. doi: 10.1212/wnl.54.5.1175.
Join the conversation
Share your thoughts or experiences with others in our patient communities.
Ask, share, connect.
Browse discussions, ask questions, and share experiences across hundreds of health topics.
Sign up to the Patient newsletter
Your weekly dose of clear, trustworthy health advice - written to help you feel informed, confident and in control.
By subscribing you accept our Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe at any time. We never sell your data.