title: Combined pressure-radionuclide evaluation of suspected cerebrospinal fluid shunt malfunction: a seven-year clinical experience.
abstract: A simple, safe radionuclide technique for evaluating the functional status of a cerebrospinal fluid shunt has been used in the clinical management of hydrocephalus in 306 patients over a seven-year period. Results of 526 studies showed greater than 99% sensitivity and accuracy in diagnosing distal shunt obstruction and 96% correct correlation with clinical outcome overall. Intrareservoir pressure measurements are especially valuable to diagnose proximal catheter shunt malfunction and to assess shunt dependency.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002557:Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts / Q000009:adverse effects; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D007223:Infant; D007427:Intracranial Pressure; D008297:Male; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D013667:Technetium
chemical_list: D013667:Technetium