Evaluation of shunt function in hydrocephalic patients with the radionuclide 99mTc-pertechnetate.
In most cases of shunted hydrocephalus, shunt malfunction is evaluated by clinical examination and neuro-imaging. However if there is a discrepancy between neurological examination and imaging, additional shuntography can be helpful in the evaluation of the shunt function. In our clinic, radionuclide-imaging shuntography using (99m)technetium-pertechnetate was performed in 85 children between 1992 and 1995. The results of shuntography were evaluated visually and from time-activity curves. Shuntography had a sensitivity of 96%, a specificity of 89%, and an accuracy of 93%, proved either by surgery or by clinical follow-up for 2-5 years. Corresponding to these results, we recommend the use of shuntography in cases with an uncertain shunt function before surgical revision.
Department of Neurosurgery, St. Gertrauden Hospital, Berlin, Germany.
C H
CH
May
R
R
Aurisch
D
D
Kornrumpf
S
S
Vogel
D000293:Adolescent; D002552:Cerebral Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002557:Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010529:Peritoneal Cavity / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D012086:Reoperation; D012212:Rheology / Q000379:methods; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013670:Sodium Pertechnetate Tc 99m
D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D013670:Sodium Pertechnetate Tc 99m