[Pathology of hydranencephaly]

Data on pathological manifestations of hydranencephaly (3 cases) consisting of complete or nearly complete absence of cerebral hemispheres with the intact stem, cerebellum, spinal cord, meninges and skull bones are presented. A number of structural disorders were found in the remaining structures of the brain. A hypothesis on the origin of this central nervous system developmental defect is proposed: hydranencephaly is associated with disorders in the development of leptomeninges at the early stages of embryogenesis.