Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Hydrocephalus case study one
Introduction
Case #1
Case #1
Clinical Summary
One interesting case involving a person with past hydrocephalus was a 44-year old French man, whose brain had been reduced to little more than a thin sheet of actual brain tissue, due to the buildup of fluid in his skull. The man, who had a shunt inserted into his head to drain away fluid (which was removed when he was 14), went to a hospital after he had been experiencing mild weakness in his left leg.
Imaging findings
- Computed tomography(CT) scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were done which showed “massive enlargement” of the lateral ventricles in the skull and virtual absence of the brain.
- Intelligence tests showed the man had an IQ of 75, below the average score of 100 but not considered mentally retarded or disabled, either.
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Cafer Zorkun M.D., PhD.,Kalsang Dolma, M.B.B.S.[2]