Quantitative follow-up analysis by computed tomographic imaging in neonatal hydrocephalus.
We sought a simple and accurate method to monitor neonatal hydrocephalic infants using standard computed tomographic scans. Volume measurements were made by means of pixel counting using a personal computer and a drawing device, as a graphic tablet system, over computed tomographic scans of six infants with neonatal hydrocephalus and four age-matched control infants. The mean value (763.9 +/- 83.3 cm(3)) of the volume of the cranium in the hydrocephalic group was two times higher than that in the age-matched control infants (360.4 +/- 41.4 cm(3)), P < 0.00001. Sequential changes of the ventricular/intracranial volume ratio steadily decreased after cerebrospinal fluid diversion by means of a "two-step procedure" as early in postnatal life as feasible. The mean value (0.67 +/- 0.12) of the lateral ventricle/intracranial volume ratio at birth improved to 12 months of age (0.26 +/- 0.14), P < 0.05. This study has documented, by means of quantitative analysis of serial scans, a statistically significant increase in the neonatal hydrocephalic brain volume after cerebrospinal fluid shunting.
Morimoto
Kazuyoshi
K
Osaka Medical Center and Research Institute for Maternal and Child Health, Osaka, Japan.
Nishikuni
Koshiro
K
Hirano
Shun-ichiro
S
Takemoto
Osamu
O
Futagi
Yasuyuki
Y
D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002557:Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts; D002648:Child; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D012886:Skull / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed