Hydrocephalus

Hydrocephalus is a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain’s ventricles, increasing pressure or enlarging them. It can arise at any age and has several distinct causes and forms.

Cerebrospinal fluid: A clear fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord, cushioning them and helping maintain their chemical environment. Its production, circulation, and absorption determine whether fluid accumulates in the ventricles.
Congenital hydrocephalus: Hydrocephalus present at birth, often associated with developmental abnormalities or genetic conditions. It illustrates how abnormal development can disrupt cerebrospinal fluid pathways before birth.
Ventriculoperitoneal shunt: A surgically implanted tube that drains cerebrospinal fluid from a brain ventricle into the abdominal cavity. It provides a lasting route for excess fluid to leave the ventricles.
Papilledema: Swelling of the optic disc caused by elevated pressure inside the skull. It can provide evidence of raised intracranial pressure in some cases.
Ventricular system: A connected set of fluid-filled cavities within the brain that produces and circulates cerebrospinal fluid. These cavities enlarge when cerebrospinal fluid builds up.
Normal pressure hydrocephalus: A form of hydrocephalus in older adults characterized by enlarged ventricles and often normal measured cerebrospinal fluid pressure. Its gradual symptoms can resemble other causes of gait and cognitive decline.
Endoscopic third ventriculostomy: A procedure that creates an opening in the floor of the third ventricle to let cerebrospinal fluid bypass an obstruction. It can restore flow without an implanted shunt in selected obstructive cases.
Craniosynostosis: Premature fusion of one or more skull sutures, which can restrict skull growth and alter head shape. It can also change head shape or pressure, but results from fused skull sutures rather than fluid accumulation.
Choroid plexus: A network of specialized tissue in the brain’s ventricles that produces most cerebrospinal fluid. Excess production is one possible contributor to fluid accumulation.
Obstructive hydrocephalus: Hydrocephalus caused by blockage within the cerebrospinal fluid pathways. A focal obstruction distinguishes this form from impaired absorption throughout the system.

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