Pitfalls in the diagnosis of arrested hydrocephalus.
Arrested hydrocephalus probably results from improvement of CSF circulation during growth. Although a generally accepted condition, its mode of onset, its presence in a given patient, and time required to establish the absence of progressive hydrocephalus have not been defined. Five patients are presented with ostensibly arrested hydrocephalus due to: aqueductal stenosis, communicating hydrocephalus, and Dandy-Walker malformation. In a period ranging from 4 to 13 years, they presented clinical signs of decompensation with intracranial hypertension. One had never had a shunt procedure. Another two were performing well in school until they suddenly deteriorated. The diagnosis of arrested hydrocephalus requires close follow-up well into adolescence, with periodical neurological and psychomotor evaluations.  Sequential observation of the ventricular size with computed tomography (CT) is recommended.
D002557:Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D011379:Prognosis