Recurrent obstructive hydrocephalus in a 4-month-old infant.
BACKGROUND
Transient, recurrent or permanent causes of hydrocephalus in children are usually due to tumours, cerebral bleeding or colloid cysts and complications of infectious meningitis or secondary to poisoning. Recurrent, obstructive hydrocephalus is very rare.


METHODS
We report a 4-month-old boy who suffered at least three different episodes of obstructive hydrocephalus presumably caused by intermittent valvular blockage of the normal aqueduct cerebrospinal flow as indirectly demonstrated by serial standard and dynamic brain imaging studies. In addition, he had congenital left hydronephrosis secondary to congenital ureteropelvic junction stenosis. The child underwent an endoscopic third ventriculostomy with only transient post-surgical complications (i.e. central diabetes insipidus).


CONCLUSIONS
The neurological symptoms rapidly improved after surgery, and the child is currently doing well with normal psychomotor development.
Unit of Clinical Paediatrics, Department of Paediatrics, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
Danilo
D
Castellano-Chiodo
Piero
P
Pavone
Andrea Domenico
AD
Praticò
Olga
O
Romantshik
Andrea
A
Rossi
Rocco
R
Raffaele
Lorenzo
L
Pavone
Martino
M
Ruggieri
D004453:Echoencephalography; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D007223:Infant; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D044583:Neuroendoscopy / Q000379:methods; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D035583:Rare Diseases; D012008:Recurrence; D020542:Third Ventricle / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014696:Ventriculostomy / Q000379:methods