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Early Finding in Congenital Communicating Hydrocephalus

William C. Robertson, Jr, MD; Manuel R. Gomez, MD

Arch Neurol. 1978;35(8):541-544.

Abstract
• Dilation of the subarachnoid channels overlying the cerebral hemispheres, ie, external hydrocephalus, can be an early anatomic-radiologic finding in some infants with congenital communicating hydrocephalus. This structural change may progress to ventricular dilation or internal hydrocephalus. Enlargement of the subarachnoid channels appears to occur during the first stage in the development of congenital communicating hydrocephalus, which is to say that the subarachnoid compartment allows accumulation of CSF before there is significant ventricular distention, at least in some infants. When a pneumoencephalogram or a CT scan is performed at this stage, the findings may falsely suggest "cerebral atrophy." In six patients who received this grave neuroradiologic diagnosis, five subsequently developed normally and the sixth has static incoordination or clumsiness and mild intellectual deficiency.

Author Affiliations
From the Section of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation, Rochester, Minn.

Footnotes
Accepted for publication Jan 24, 1978.

Read before the Fifth National Meeting of the Child Neurology Society, Monterey, Calif, Oct 28, 1976.

Reprint requests to Mayo Clinic, 200 First St SW, Rochester, MN 55901 (Dr Gomez).

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