Biomaterial Database

[Ultrasonic diagnosis in hydrocephalus]. 1983

L Pfister, and U G Stauffer

Sonographic evaluation of the brain offers a noninvasive, safe and inexpensive method in diagnosis and follow-up of hydrocephalus associated with meningomyelocele. Cranial computed tomography should be reserved for special questions such as assessment of bony structures, subdural effusions or if fontanelles and sutures are already closed. Ultrasound of the neonatal head is completely harmless, repeated examinations can easily be performed and sedation of the infant is usually not necessary. The method of ultrasound sections in different directions is demonstrated and compared to axial CT sections. Value, effectiveness and diagnostic interpretation of the method are demonstrated in four cases: 1. Small lumbar meningomyelocele with mild hydrocephalus without enlargement on follow-up. 2. Giant spinal defect with kyphoskoliosis, marked hydrocephalus and associated ventricle abnormalities. 3. Sonographic follow-up after ventriculo-atrial shunting in a patient with congenital hydrocephalus. 4. Cerebrospinal fluid abdominal pseudocyst after ventriculo-peritoneal shunting. Thus ultrasound is an excellent method for following ventricular size and shunt-function in meningomyelocele-patients.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007231	Infant, Newborn	An infant during the first 28 days after birth.	Neonate,Newborns,Infants, Newborn,Neonates,Newborn,Newborn Infant,Newborn Infants
D007232	Infant, Newborn, Diseases	Diseases of newborn infants present at birth (congenital) or developing within the first month of birth. It does not include hereditary diseases not manifesting at birth or within the first 30 days of life nor does it include inborn errors of metabolism. Both HEREDITARY DISEASES and METABOLISM, INBORN ERRORS are available as general concepts.	Neonatal Diseases,Disease, Neonatal,Diseases, Neonatal,Neonatal Disease
D008297	Male		Males
D008591	Meningomyelocele	Congenital, or rarely acquired, herniation of meningeal and spinal cord tissue through a bony defect in the vertebral column. The majority of these defects occur in the lumbosacral region. Clinical features include PARAPLEGIA, loss of sensation in the lower body, and incontinence. This condition may be associated with the ARNOLD-CHIARI MALFORMATION and HYDROCEPHALUS. (From Joynt, Clinical Neurology, 1992, Ch55, pp35-6)	Myelocele,Myelomeningocele,Acquired Meningomyelocele,Myelomeningocele, Acquired,Acquired Meningomyeloceles,Acquired Myelomeningocele,Acquired Myelomeningoceles,Meningomyelocele, Acquired,Meningomyeloceles,Meningomyeloceles, Acquired,Myeloceles,Myelomeningoceles,Myelomeningoceles, Acquired
D011183	Postoperative Complications	Pathologic processes that affect patients after a surgical procedure. They may or may not be related to the disease for which the surgery was done, and they may or may not be direct results of the surgery.	Complication, Postoperative,Complications, Postoperative,Postoperative Complication
D002557	Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts	Tubes inserted to create communication between a cerebral ventricle and the internal jugular vein. Their emplacement permits draining of cerebrospinal fluid for relief of hydrocephalus or other condition leading to fluid accumulation in the ventricles.	Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunt,Shunt, Cerebrospinal Fluid,Shunts, Cerebrospinal Fluid
D002675	Child, Preschool	A child between the ages of 2 and 5.	Children, Preschool,Preschool Child,Preschool Children
D003560	Cysts	Any fluid-filled closed cavity or sac that is lined by an EPITHELIUM. Cysts can be of normal, abnormal, non-neoplastic, or neoplastic tissues.	Cyst
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man