Aims and objectives
Hydrocephalusis a common pathology in children population,
and it is due to various causes.
Imaging methods of hydrocephalus includestrans fontanellar ultrasound(us),computer tomography(CT)andmagnetic resonance imaging(MRI).
Theaimsof this work is :
- to illustrate the imaging patterns of hydrocephalus in childhood.
- to discuss the epidemiological profile of hydrocephalus and its main etiologies in childhood.
- to know the main MRI sequences useful to the diagnosis and determination of the causeof hydrocephalus
Methods and materials
From January 2016 to December 2017,
we prospectively collected data from 100 caseswithhydrocephalus in thepediatric radiology department of Ibn Rochd university hospital center.
Our patients were evaluated by brain ultra sonography,
contrast enhancedCT and MRI.
- The brainsonographywas performed without any preparation in the infant less than one year (permeable fontanelle).
The classical anterior trans fontanellar approach was used with micro convex and high frequency probes.
Frontal and sagittal sections were performed (fig.
1 and 2).
In the case of ventricular dilatation,
measurements of the...
Results
Were included in our study all patients in both sexes aged between 0 and14 years.The mean age at the time of diagnosis was 7 years with a sex ratio of 1,2.
Clinical features were dominated by macrocranium (45%) and ICP symptoms (40%).
Distribution of different types of hydrocephalus is summarized in the Table 1 while the distribution of etiologies is summarized in the Table 2.
Table 1 : types of hydrocephalus in our serie :
Type of hydrocephalus
Cases
Pourcentage
Bi ventricular
20
20 %...
Conclusion
- Hydrocephalus in a common pathology in childhood.
Etiologies are diverse and vary according to age of patient.
- Intracranial hypertension and macrocephaly are the main symptoms revelating of hydrocephalus.
-MRI is the method of choice for diagnosis of hydrocephalus in children as it allows determination of the cause and location of a possible obstruction.
References
1-Dinçer,
A.,
& Özek,
M.
M.
(2011).
Radiologic evaluation of pediatric hydrocephalus.Child's Nervous System,27(10),
1543.
2-Britton,
J.,
Marsh,
H.,
Kendall,
B.,
& Kingsley,
D.
(1988).
MRI and hydrocephalus in childhood.Neuroradiology,30(4),
310-314.