Related Experiment Videos
Age-dependent changes of cerebral ventricular size. Part I: Review of intracranial fluid collections
E R Cardoso1, M R Del Bigio, G Schroeder
1Department of Surgery, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.
Insights
Communicating hydrocephalus (CH) and chronic subdural hematomas (CSH) affect the very young and elderly, while pseudotumor cerebri (PC) and slit-ventricle syndrome (SVS) impact older children and young adults. Brain elasticity and volume influence these age-related neurological conditions.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Pediatrics
- Neurosurgery
Background:
- Communicating hydrocephalus (CH), pseudotumor cerebri (PC), slit-ventricle syndrome (SVS), and chronic subdural hematomas (CSH) are distinct neurological conditions.
- Age is a significant factor in the incidence and presentation of these disorders, particularly concerning cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) dynamics and brain development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the age distributions of CH, PC, SVS, and CSH.
- To explore potential age-related factors influencing the incidence and development of these conditions.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies reporting age distributions for CH, PC, SVS, and CSH.
- Analysis of age-related patterns and correlation with physiological factors.
Main Results:
- CH and CSH predominantly occur in neonates (<2 years) and the elderly (>55 years).
- PC and SVS are more common in older children and young adults.
- Neonates and the elderly are more susceptible to ventricular dilatation and subdural collections.
Conclusions:
- Cerebral volume, elasticity, and maturity play a role in age-related susceptibility to ventricular dilatation and subdural fluid collections.
- Factors such as cranial suture status, cerebral atrophy, water content, myelination, and glial composition may influence the age-specific incidence of these disorders.
Abstract:
The age distributions of communicating hydrocephalus (CH), pseudotumour cerebri (PC) slit-ventricle syndrome (SVS), and chronic subdural haematomas (CSH) were reviewed in the medical literature. An age-related incidence was found: CH and CSH predominated in neonates less than 2 years and adults older than 55 years, while PC and SVS occurred mainly in older children and young adults. The latter two patient groups seem to show a greater resistance to ventricular dilatation in the presence of decreased CSF absorption. This may be related to larger volume and state of maturity of the cerebrum. On the other hand, neonates and the elderly more readily develop enlarged ventricles, in association with impairment of CSF absorption, or subdural fluid collections. Factors including status of cranial sutures, cerebral atrophy, cerebral water content, degree of cerebral myelination, and glial cell composition, may contribute to the age-related incidence of the four disorders investigated. Similarly, the development of ventriculomegaly may depend upon cerebral elastic properties besides the pri mary disturbance of CSF dynamics. The authors postulate that the size of cerebral ventricles in disorders of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) absorption is related to the elastic properties and volume of the brain. Furthermore, cerebral volume and elastic properties may also contribute to the age distribution of chronic subdural haematomas (CSH).