What Clinical Signs Can Be Associated With Benign External Hydrocephalus?

Discussion Hydrocephalus is an abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the ventricles and/or subarachnoid spaces. External hydrocephalus is a communicating hydrocephalus often defined as the patient having a rapidly enlarging head circumference (HC) and enlargement of the subarachnoid spaces especially over the frontal lobes with normal or moderately enlarged ventricles. Benign external hydrocephalus (BEH) is a self-limited external hydrocephalus that occurs during infancy and resolves spontaneously in childhood, usually by age 2 years, that is felt to not cause significant problems. It was first described by W.E. Dandy 1947 and there have been other terms used to describe this entity that indicate further understanding of the entity and the presumed pathophysiology. A recent study in Norway reported the incidence to be 0.4 per 1000 live births. Some patients seem to have a genetic propensity to BEH. The cause of BEH is debated but is most commonly felt to be because of immature arachnoid villi. Arachnoid granulations become visible between 6-18 months and then gradually develop in size over years. It is felt that there is a delay in maturation of this process where the villi are not able to reabsorb the CSF that is being produced, thus the CSF accumulates externally in the subarachnoid spaces. An evaluation for macrocephaly is a common reason a child has neuroimaging which can include transfontanele ultrasound, computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonanc...
Source: PediatricEducation.org - Category: Pediatrics Authors: Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: news