Non-tumoral Aqueductal Stenosis in Adults.

Han, Yong Pyo; Kim, Heung Chi; Kim, Sang Chul; Chung, Sang Sup; Lee, Hun Jae

Original Article

Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society 1974;3(1): 77-84.

Yong Pyo Han, Heung Chi Kim, Sang Chul Kim, Sang Sup Chung, Hun Jae Lee

Department of Neurosurgery, Yonsei University, College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

ABSTRACT

Though non-tumoral stenosis of the aqueduct has long been described as a common cause of hydrocephalus in infants and young children, its occurrence in adults has been recorded infrequently. In adults, the general picture of the clinical features is of chronic hydrocephalus such as impaired memory, epilepsy, unsteady gait, headache and other features of increased intracranial tension and endocrine disorders and features indicative of hypothalamic involvement. Plain skull X-rays show the signs of increased intracranial tension. The diagnosis if confirmed by ventriculography with or without lumbar encephalography. Recently cerebral angiography is stressed in diagnosis of aqueductal stenosis. We have seen two cases of aqueductal stenosis which can be regarded as non-tumoral origin. They were females and 29 and 34 years old respectively. Their symptoms were similar. It was headache for several months' duration which were aggrevated as time progress and combined with convulsions. Bilateral papilledema was the only finding in neurological examination. In conray ventriculography, the third ventricles were markedly enlarged and involved the salla tursica, and conray was not filled the caudal part of the aqueduct in two cases. The first case, following Torkildsens ventriculocisternal shunt did well for several days, however, patient died in spite of massive antibiotic therapy and ventriculostomy after removal of shunt tube which was regarded as infective. Autopsy showed periaqueductal gliosis without neoplasmic infiltration. Second case was improved with anterior third ventriculostomy.