title: Benign external hydrocephalus in infants. A single centre experience and literature review.
abstract: External hydrocephalus (EH) is a benign clinical entity in which macrocephaly is associated with an increase in volume of the subarachnoid space, especially overlying both frontal lobes, and a normal or only slight increase in volume of the lateral ventricles. Several pathogenic hypotheses have been proposed but the most accredited theory seems to be delayed maturation of the arachnoid villi. There is a consensus that this is a benign entity, correlated to a familial predisposition and, in some cases, inheritance. CT and MRI are very important to make a diagnosis but also to establish the prognosis in patients who encounter the rare complications such as subdural haematomas. In conclusion, CT and MRI can provide a highly accurate diagnosis in these patients, allowing a preliminary assessment of the prognosis, particularly regarding the enlarged subarachnoid space limits and the "cortical vein" sign which can predict a further complication. These results are obtained with the same examination performed in a standard CT or MRI study of the brain and no injection of contrast medium is needed.
authors.affiliation: Neuroradiology Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Morphologic and Functional Imaging, University of Messina; Messina, Italy - mariaadele84@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Maria Adele
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Marino
authors.affiliation: Neuroradiology Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Morphologic and Functional Imaging, University of Messina; Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Morabito
authors.affiliation: Neuroradiology Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Morphologic and Functional Imaging, University of Messina; Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vinci
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, Psychiatric and Anaesthesiological Sciences, Neurosurgery Unit, University of Messina; Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Germanò
authors.affiliation: National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Institute of Clinical Physiology (IFC), University of Messina; Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Marilena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Briguglio
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, Psychiatric and Anaesthesiological Sciences, Neurosurgery Unit, University of Messina; Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Concetta
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Alafaci
authors.affiliation: Neuroradiology Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Morphologic and Functional Imaging, University of Messina; Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Enricomaria
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mormina
authors.affiliation: Neuroradiology Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Morphologic and Functional Imaging, University of Messina; Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Marcello
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Longo
authors.affiliation: Neuroradiology Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Morphologic and Functional Imaging, University of Messina; Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Granata
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D007223:Infant; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D058627:Megalencephaly / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013346:Subarachnoid Space / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
keywords: CT; MR imaging; benign macrocephaly; paediatric hydrocephalus
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