Unusual case of 'trapped fourth ventricle' in a child with posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus - Lessons learnt

Suhas Udayakumaran, Liana Beni Adani

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

In most of the children with posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus (PHH), multidisciplinary follow-up is performed, with the focus on consequences of prematurity, cerebral palsy (CP) and hydrocephalus. A large fourth ventricle is common in these children but imaging performed in order to document ventricles and tissue damage is not oriented to exclude coexisting rare pathologies. We report a 3-year-old child with spastic CP, secondary to prematurity and PHH. A ventriculoperitoneal shunt was inserted at the age of 2 months. On follow-up imaging the child demonstrated well-drained supratentorial ventricles with a persistent large fourth ventricle. Because of a neurological change in spasticity and new-onset torticollis, a repeat MRI was performed, suggesting a cystic, nonenhancing lesion of the fourth ventricle. The surgical exploration revealed a large dermoid of the fourth ventricle. We analyze the differential diagnosis of a clinically significant large fourth ventricle in a shunted child with PHH and CP. This includes conditions without pressure in the posterior fossa such as tissue loss due to cerebellar atrophy, or pathologies causing a true increase in pressure of the fourth ventricle (isolated fourth ventricle, cystic lesions and neoplasms of the fourth ventricle). Neurologically compromised children pose additional challenges in reaching a definitive diagnosis and hence require a careful regular assessment of their clinical status with additional well-timed imaging with appropriate protocols to allow appropriate treatment when indicated and to avoid morbidity due to delayed diagnosis. We present a rare coexistence of a dermoid tumor within the fourth ventricle in a CP child with PHH and express the dilemmas associated with its management.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)60-65
Number of pages6
JournalPediatric Neurosurgery
Volume47
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Sep 2011
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Hydrocephalus
  • Large fourth ventricle
  • Posterior fossa dermoid
  • Prematurity
  • Trapped fourth ventricle

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
  • Surgery
  • Clinical Neurology

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