Noninvasive detection of the distinction between progressive and compensated hydrocephalus in infants: is it possible?
OBJECTIVE
Clinical signs and symptoms of hydrocephalus can be clear and specific, but also subtle, nonspecific, or even absent. It may be difficult to decide whether shunt placement is indicated, especially in infants. Therefore, there is a need for the development of better noninvasive detection methods to distinguish between compensated and (slowly) progressive hydrocephalus. Early interference can reverse the cerebral damage, whereas the detection of a nonpathological state in infants with compensated hydrocephalus avoids the complications of unnecessary shunt procedures. Using MR imaging, the authors investigated cerebral blood flow (CBF) and apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs) measured in infants with clinically compensated hydrocephalus.


METHODS
The diagnosis of compensated hydrocephalus was made on the basis of clinical criteria, consisting of no signs or symptoms of increased intracranial pressure (ICP), measurement of a normal ICP, and standard MR imaging showing enlarged ventricles. Flow measurements through both internal carotid arteries and the basilar artery were considered to represent the total CBF. In addition, ADC values were assessed in 5 different regions of interest in the brain parenchyma using diffusion weighted imaging. Brain volumetric measurement was performed to express CBF in ml/100 cm(3) brain/min, thus compensating for physiological CBF growth over time. Mean arterial blood pressure was manually measured to exclude this factor as a cause of a possible change in CBF. Intracranial pressure measurement was performed noninvasively using the Rotterdam Teletransducer.


RESULTS
Eighteen infants with clinically compensated hydrocephalus were included. The mean CBF was 53.5 ml/100 cm(3) of brain/min. The individual CBF values were graphically compared with age-related normal CBF values and fell in the normal range. Mean ADC value was 890.0 x10(-6) mm(2)/sec. Apparent diffusion coefficient values per region of interest were graphically compared with normal ADC values per region of interest and fell within the normal range.


CONCLUSIONS
In infants with hydrocephalus, normal CBF and low ADC values, as measured using MR imaging, are associated with compensated hydrocephalus and may support a conservative approach with respect to the decision on whether to place a shunt.
Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, G 03.124, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands. p.h.leliefeld@umcutrecht.nl
Paul H
PH
Leliefeld
Rob H J M
RH
Gooskens
Cees A F
CA
Tulleken
Luca
L
Regli
Cuno S P M
CS
Uiterwaal
K Sen
KS
Han
L Jaap
LJ
Kappelle
D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000502:physiology; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D002557:Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006850:Hydrocephalus, Normal Pressure / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007427:Intracranial Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000502:physiology; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000502:physiology; D012984:Software