title: Congenital hydrocephalus and clasped thumbs: two cases of brothers in a family.
abstract: Two cases of brothers with congenital hydrocephalus and clasped thumbs are reported. In consideration of the rare incidence of sporadic congenital hydrocephalus, hereditary origin of these cases based on X-linked recessive inheritance was suspected. Serial sectioning of the brain stem revealed stenosis and abnormal dorso-ventral elongation of the aqueduct. These findings support the postulation of Landrieu et al that the primary defect in X-linked hereditary hydrocephalus is a communicating hydrocephalus leading usually to aqueductal stenosis in consequence of lateral compression of the brain stem.
mesh_terms: D002552:Cerebral Ventricles / Q000473:pathology; D004108:Dilatation, Pathologic / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D010375:Pedigree; D013933:Thumb / Q000002:abnormalities*