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Hydrocephalus (communicating)

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

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Communicating hydrocephalus or non-obstructive hydrocephalus is caused by impaired CSF absorption

  • visible CSF obstruction between the ventricles and subarachnoid system (SAS) is absent
  • is thought to be due to the functional impairment of the arachnoid granulations, which are located along the superior sagittal sinus (which is the main site of CSF absorption back into the venous system).
  • rearely it can be caused by an abundance of CSF production, as a result of a choroid plexus papilloma or carcinoma (1,2)

All the ventricles show a generalised dilatation on a CT scan. It is safe to perform a lumbar puncture since the increased intracranial pressure is evenly distributed throughout the subarachnoid space.

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