Normal pressure hydrocephalus

Case contributed by Frank Gaillard
Diagnosis almost certain

Presentation

Cognitive decline, incontinence and gait disturbance.

Patient Data

Age: 75-80 years
Gender: Male
mri
This study is a stack
Sagittal
T2
This study is a stack
Axial
SWI
This study is a stack
Axial
FLAIR
This study is a stack
Axial
T2
This study is a stack
Axial
T2
This study is a stack
Axial
T1
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Info

Multiple FLAIR hyperintensities scattered throughout the periventricular and subcortical white matter likely reflect chronic small vessel ischaemia, prominent in severity for this age. Even allowing for a degree of exvacuo dilatation related to this, the lateral and third ventricles are prominent in size compared to the sulcal pattern and the corpus callosum is thinned.

There is disproportionate crowding of the sulci superiorly near the vertex and widening of the sylvian fissures. The flow void is exaggerated across the aqueduct of Sylvius. Patency is also demonstrated on the CSF flow study (not shown)

Conclusion:

Appearances compatible with normal pressure hydrocephalus.

Case Discussion

A diagnosis of NPH on imaging alone is difficult and care must be taken to correlate with patient symptoms. Much of the initial work done on CSF flow studies has been difficult to replicate. 

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