Cerebral white matter and cognition in hydrocephalic children

Fletcher JM, Bohan TP, Brandt ME, Brookshire BL, Beaver SR, Francis DJ, Davidson KC, Thompson NM, Miner ME. Cerebral white matter and cognition in hydrocephalic children. Archives of Neurology. 1992 Aug;49(8):818-24.

Although children with hydrocephalus frequently show poor development of nonverbal cognitive skills relative to verbal skills, little is known about the neuropathologic correlates of these discrepancies. In this study, cerebral white-matter structures and lateral ventricles were measured from the magnetic resonance images of age-matched children with meningomyelocele, meningocele, and aqueductal stenosis and normal subjects. The volume of each lateral ventricle and the cross-sectional area of the corpus callosum and internal capsules were correlated with concurrent measures of verbal and nonverbal cognitive skills. The corpus callosum in the meningomyelocele and aqueductal stenosis groups was smaller. The lateral ventricles were larger, and the internal capsules were smaller, in all patient groups than in normal subjects. There were no differences in the size of the centra semiovale. Although verbal and nonverbal measures correlated positively with the size of the corpus callosum, the correlation was higher for nonverbal measures. Nonverbal measures correlated with the right, but not the left, lateral ventricle and with the area of the right and left internal capsules. Verbal measures correlated with the left, but not right, lateral ventricle and with the left, but not right, internal capsule. These results show a relationship between the corpus callosum and cognitive skills that is also influenced by hydrocephalus-related changes in the lateral ventricles and other cerebral white-matter tracts.

PMID: 1524514

Functioning of the corpus callosum in children with early hydrocephalus

Hannay HJ. Functioning of the corpus callosum in children with early hydrocephalus. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society. 2000 Mar;6(3):351-61. Review.

The development and organization of the corpus callosum is described as well as the relationship between the timing of insults and the type of partial agenesis of the corpus callosum are discussed. Neuropathology and callosal damage associated with spina bifida meningomyelocele, aqueductal stenosis, and prematurity-IVH are outlined. Relationships between corpus callosum/whole brain ratios and cognitive functioning as well as interhemispheric transfer in children with these disorders are outlined. Shortcomings of current research and future directions are suggested.

PMID: 10824507

Longstanding overt ventriculomegaly in adults: pitfalls in treatment with endoscopic third ventriculostomy.

Rekate HL. Longstanding overt ventriculomegaly in adults: pitfalls in treatment with endoscopic third ventriculostomy. Neurosurgical Focus. 2007 Apr 15;22(4):E6.

OBJECT: The recently described condition of longstanding overt ventriculomegaly in adults (LOVA) has not been defined in terms of the need for intervention, timing of intervention, and ideal treatment. The purpose of this review was to evaluate the role of endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) in the treatment of LOVA.

METHODS: Data collected in six patients with LOVA who had undergone ETV were reviewed retrospectively in terms of the definition of treatment success, rates of success, complications, and outcome. All six patients presented with headache disorders. In all patients, triventricular hydrocephalus had been diagnosed as aqueductal stenosis, and head circumference measurements were above the 98th percentile. All six had undergone successful ETV as documented by the free flow of cerebrospinal fluid into the basal cisterns, which remained open throughout the follow-up period. After the procedure, one patient experienced a mild degree of difficulty with short-term memory. Five patients remained symptomatic or had symptoms requiring further treatment 3 months to 3 years after ETV. Four patients received ventriculoperitoneal shunts, and one underwent venous stenting for high intracranial pressure after successful ETV. In two patients in whom aqueductal stenosis had been diagnosed, the sylvian aqueduct was patent after the procedure.

CONCLUSIONS: In LOVA patients who present with headaches, ETV may not lead to improvement in the headaches. Despite the presence of triventricular hydrocephalus, closure of the aqueduct may be a secondary phenomenon, and flow through the aqueduct may be reestablished after ETV. If intracranial hypertension persists after successful ETV, its cause may be increased venous sinus pressure.

PMID: 17613195