scholarly journals Tetraventricular noncommunicating hydrocephalus: Case report and literature review

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 519
Author(s):  
Magno Rocha Freitas Rosa ◽  
Thainá Zanon Cruz ◽  
Eduardo Vasconcelos Magalhães Junior ◽  
Flavio Nigri

Background: Tetraventricular hydrocephalus is a common presentation of communicating hydrocephalus. Conversely, cases with noncommunicating etiology impose a diagnostic challenge and are often neglected and underdiagnosed. Herein, we present a review of literature for clinical, diagnostic, and surgical aspects regarding noncommunicating tetrahydrocephalus caused by primary fourth ventricle outlet obstruction (FVOO), illustrating with a case from our service. Methods: We performed a research on PubMed database crossing the terms “FVOO,” “tetraventriculomegaly,” and “hydrocephalus” in English. Fifteen articles (a total of 34 cases of primary FVOO) matched our criteria and were, therefore, included in this study besides our own case. Results: Most cases presented in adulthood (47%), equally divided between male and female. Clinical presentation was unspecific, commonly including headache, nausea, and dizziness as symptoms (35.29%, 21.57%, and 9.80%, respectively), with ataxic gait (65%) and papilledema (40%) being the most frequent signs. MRI and CT were the imaging modalities of choice (11 patients each), often associated with CSF flow studies, such as cine MRI and CT ventriculogram. Endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) was both the most popular and effective surgical approach (50.85% of cases, with 18.91% of recurrence) followed by ventricle-peritoneal shunt (16.95% of patients, 23.0% of recurrence). Conclusion: FVOO stands for a poorly understood etiology of noncommunicating tetrahydrocephalus. With the use of ETV, these cases, once hopeless, had its morbimortality and recurrence reduced greatly. Therefore, its suspicion and differentiation from other forms of tetrahydrocephalus can improve its natural course, reinforcing the importance of its acknowledgment.

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Pau Capilla-Guasch ◽  
Félix Pastor-Escartín ◽  
Pau Capilla-Guasch ◽  
Vicent Quilis-Quesada ◽  
Esteban Vega Torres ◽  
...  

Introduction: Fourth ventricle outlet obstruction (FVOO) at the level of Magendie’s and Luschka’s foramina is a rare cause of non-communicating hydrocephalus. Case Report: We present a case of a 15-year-old woman successfully operated on a fourth ventricle WHO grade 1 pilocytic astrocytoma developing a delayed FVOO five months after surgery, when the patient experienced progressive headache, nausea and gate disturbances. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study showed a tetra-ventricular hydrocephalus, with enlargement and bulging of both lateral recesses and Luschka’s foramina. An endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) was successfully performed. Postoperative computed tomography (CT) and MRI studies showed a significant improvement of the hydrocephalus. Conclusion: FVOO is a rare cause of hydrocephalus. Posterior fossa and fourth ventricle microsurgical procedures can produce a delayed FVOO leading to an unexpected deterioration of the clinical status of the patient. The ETV is an effective and safe procedure to treat this unusual condition.


Neurosurgery ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 73 (4) ◽  
pp. 730-738 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pawel Tabakow ◽  
Marcin Czyz ◽  
Pawel Szewczyk ◽  
Artur Weiser ◽  
Wlodzimierz Jarmundowicz

Abstract BACKGROUND: Endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) is the preferred method for the treatment of noncommunicating hydrocephalus. The different success rates of ETV indicate the difficulties in predicting the success of this procedure. OBJECTIVE: To show the usefulness of intraoperative ventriculography performed by the low-field 0.15-T magnetic resonance imager Polestar N20 during ETV. METHODS: The study was conducted in 11 patients with noncommunicating hydrocephalus caused by tumors or cysts of the third ventricle (n = 5), nontumoral stenosis of the sylvian aqueduct (n = 3), and fourth ventricle outlet obstruction (n = 3). Intraoperative magnetic resonance (iMR) ventriculography was performed before and after the ETV. RESULTS: In each case, iMR-ventriculography was a safe procedure and determined the exact site of obstruction of cerebrospinal fluid flow. In all cases, iMR-ventriculography performed after ETV showed with the greatest accuracy the patency of the performed fenestrations, demonstrating in 9 patients good flow of the contrast from the third ventricle to the basal cisterns, restricted flow in 1 patient, and no flow in 1 patient. The results of ventriculography were consistent with the postoperative neurological status of operated-on patients. In 3 patients, the opinion of the surgeons about the patency of endoscopic fenestration, based on intraoperative observation of the third ventricle floor, was inconsistent with the results from iMR-ventriculography. CONCLUSION: Low-field iMR-ventriculography is a safe procedure that can be successfully applied during ETV to determine the site of obstruction in hydrocephalus and the patency of performed ventricle fenestration.


2020 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Valentina Orlando ◽  
Pietro Spennato ◽  
Maria De Liso ◽  
Vincenzo Trischitta ◽  
Alessia Imperato ◽  
...  

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Hydrocephalus is not usually part of Down syndrome (DS). Fourth ventricle outlet obstruction is a rare cause of obstructive hydrocephalus, difficult to diagnose, because tetraventricular dilatation may suggest a communicant/nonobstructive hydrocephalus. <b><i>Case Presentation:</i></b> We describe the case of a 6-year-old boy with obstructive tetraventricular hydrocephalus, caused by Luschka and Magen­die foramina obstruction and diverticular enlargement of Luschka foramina (the so-called fourth ventricle outlet obstruction) associated with DS. He was treated with endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) without complications, and a follow-up MRI revealed reduction of the ventricles, disappearance of the diverticula, and patency of the ventriculostomy. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Diverticular enlargement of Luschka foramina is an important radiological finding for obstructive tetraventricular hydrocephalus. ETV is a viable option in tetraventricular obstructive hydrocephalus in DS.


Open Medicine ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 909-912
Author(s):  
Werner Tiefenthaler ◽  
Johannes Burtscher ◽  
Patrizia L. Moser ◽  
Ingo H. Lorenz ◽  
Christian Kolbitsch

AbstractBackgroundIn patients with non-communicating hydrocephalus impairment of cerebral compliance can occur pre- but also intraoperatively.MethodologyIn such patients (n = 6) undergoing endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV), the present study aimed to investigate the effect of ETCO2 (e.g 40 mmHg and 60 mmHg) and positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) (e.g. 6 cm and 12 cm H2O) on intraventricular pressure (IVP).FindingsBefore but not after ETV, hypercapnia in contrast to PEEP increased IVP(before ETV(PEEP-6/ ETCO2-40: 2.6 ± 2.4 mmHg) vs. (PEEP-6/ ETCO2-60: 12 ± 6.4 mmHg*); (PEEP-12/ ETCO2-40: 4.2 ± 4.1 mmHg) vs. (PEEP-12/ ETCO2-60: 13.7 ± 7.6 mmHg*), * significant, P ≤ 0.05;after ETV(PEEP-6/ ETCO2-40: 2.0 ± 1.2 mmHg) vs. (PEEP-6/ ETCO2-60: 4.4 ± 3.1 mmHg); (PEEP-12/ ETCO2-40: 1.6 ± 1.3 mmHg) vs. (PEEP-12/ ETCO2-60: 6.6 ± 2.6 mmHg), * significant, P ≤ 0.05).ConclusionPatients with non-communicating hydrocephalus showed that hypercapnia but not PEEP increases significantly IVP before but not after ETV.


Neurosurgery ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 53 (2) ◽  
pp. 387-392 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael B. Horowitz ◽  
Kamal Ramzipoor ◽  
Ajit Nair ◽  
Susan Miller ◽  
George Rappard ◽  
...  

Abstract OBJECTIVE Endoscopic third ventriculostomy has developed into a therapeutic alternative to shunting for the management of carefully selected patients with primarily noncommunicating hydrocephalus. This procedure, however, requires a general anesthetic and necessitates violation of the brain parenchyma and manipulation near vital neural structures to access the floor of the third ventricle. Using two cadavers and off-the-shelf angiographic catheters, we sought to determine whether it was possible to navigate a catheter, angioplasty balloon, and stent percutaneously through the subarachnoid space from the thecal sac into the third ventricle so as to perform a third ventriculostomy from below. METHODS Using biplane angiography and off-the-shelf angiographic catheters along with angioplasty balloons and stents, we were able to pass a stent coaxially from the thecal sac to and across the floor of the third ventricle so as to achieve a third ventriculostomy from below. RESULTS Coaxial catheter techniques allowed for the percutaneous insertion of a stent across the floor of the third ventricle. Ventriculostomy was confirmed by injecting contrast medium into the lateral ventricle and seeing it pass through the stent and into the chiasmatic cistern. CONCLUSION We describe the performance of third ventriculostomies in two cadavers by use of the new concept of percutaneous intradural neuronavigation. This procedure may obviate the need for general anesthetic and minimize the potential for brain and vascular injury, especially if ultimately combined with magnetic resonance fluoroscopy.


Neurosurgery ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 66 (6) ◽  
pp. E1210-E1211 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew J. Fabiano ◽  
Kristina Doyle ◽  
Walter Grand

Abstract OBJECTIVE To describe 2 cases of delayed endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) failure in 2 adult patients initially successfully treated for normal pressure hydrocephalus by ETV. The cause of ETV failure was stoma closure, and this was documented in both instances by direct endoscopic inspection. CLINICAL PRESENTATION In the first case, a 67-year-old woman presented with progressive gait disturbance, incontinence, and memory problems. Brain magnetic resonance imaging exhibited ventricular dilation, including the fourth ventricle, disproportionate to cortical atrophy. In the second case, a 55-year-old man presented with progressive gait disturbance, urinary incontinence, memory problems, and headaches. Brain magnetic resonance imaging exhibited communicating hydrocephalus. INTERVENTION The first patient underwent an ETV with subsequent improvement in all symptom areas. Three years and 2 months later, she experienced a return of original symptoms and ventricular dilation on brain computed tomography, compared with previous postoperative scans. Direct endoscopic inspection of the third ventricular floor revealed stoma closure secondary to fibrotic scar. The patient subsequently underwent ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement that resulted in symptom improvement. The patient in the second case underwent an ETV that resulted in marked symptom improvement in all areas. Four years and 3 months later, he experienced a return of gait difficulties and headaches. Direct endoscopic inspection showed a lack of cerebrospinal fluid pulsations through the third ventricular stoma and dense arachnoid adhesions around the basilar artery. A repeat ETV was unsuccessful. Subsequent ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement resulted in symptom improvement. CONCLUSION ETV may provide an effective treatment for patients with normal pressure hydrocephalus, a form of communicating hydrocephalus. Stoma closure can be a mechanism of delayed ETV failure in normal pressure hydrocephalus, consistent with reports of ETV failure in pediatric obstructive hydrocephalus.


2021 ◽  
pp. 20210033
Author(s):  
Poonamjeet Loyal ◽  
Samuel Gitau ◽  
Soraiya Manji ◽  
Sitna Mwanzi ◽  
John Weru

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary cancer of the liver and a major cause of mortality globally. Atypical presentation of HCC can present a diagnostic challenge. We, therefore, present a rare case of hepatocellular carcinoma fungating through the anterior abdominal wall with concomitant lung and brain metastases in a young patient with non-cirrhotic liver but positive chronic hepatitis B serology.


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