Obstructive hydrocephalus
Obstructive hydrocephalus (also known as non-communicating hydrocephalus) is simply hydrocephalus due to obstruction of CSF flow out of the ventricular system.
Frequent causes of obstructive hyrdocephalus include:
- aqueduct stenosis
- sub arachnoid haemorrhage (SAH)
- meningitis
- obstructing tumour
Features of long standing obstructive hydrocephalus are:
- marked dilatation of the lateral and third ventricles
- thinned and elevated corpus callosum
- depression of the fornices
- the floor of the 3rd ventricle is plastered to the skull base, obliterating the suprasellar cistern
- rounding of the infundibular, optic and pineal recesses
- ballooning of the suprapineal recess
- fenestration of the septum pellucidum
Treatment options include:
- shunting, most commonly with a VP shunt
- third ventriculostomy
