title: [Usefulness of somatosensory evoked potentials in the diagnosis of low-pressure hydrocephalus].
abstract: The study group comprised 35 patients in whom previous computed tomography had demonstrated significant dilatation of the ventricular system. On the basis of analysis of clinical manifestations and tomograms the patients were divided into two groups: 24 cases (group I) low-pressure hydrocephalus, 11 cases (group II) brain atrophy. For establishing of final diagnosis in both groups the resistance of cerebrospinal fluid outflow was determined (using continuous infusion at a rate of 2 ml/min) and somatosensory evoked potentials were produced by stimulation of median nerve. In patients with increased resistance to CSF resorption (low-pressure hydrocephalus) the conduction time in the N14-P15 segment involving brain stem structures was prolonged (in 17 out of 19 cases). In cases with not increased resistance no changes of evoked potentials were noted. It is thought that the so called posterior cranial fossa conduction time (N14-P15) may be a useful indicator for differential diagnosis of low-pressure hydrocephalus from brain atrophy.
authors.affiliation: Kliniki Neurochirurgii Instytutu Centrum Medycyny Doświadczalnej i Klinicznej PAN, Warszawie.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jurkiewicz
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Costabile
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Czernicki
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hess
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Probst
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001284:Atrophy / Q000175:diagnosis; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D014695:Cerebral Ventriculography; D015170:Cerebrospinal Fluid Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005073:Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006850:Hydrocephalus, Normal Pressure / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013003:Somatosensory Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
vernacular_title: Przydatność somatosensorycznych potencjałów wywołanych dla rozpoznania wodogłowia niskociśnieniowego.