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Updated: Mar 29, 2026
Neuronavigation and Laparoscopy Guided Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Insertion for the Treatment of Hydrocephalus
Published on: October 14, 2022
Longitudinal Changes in the Brain Following Third Ventriculostomy in a Child With Hydrocephalus: A Case Report
Yongxin Li1, Cailei Zhao, Zhen Tan
1From the Institute of Clinical Anatomy, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou (YL, YW, JW, HG, BZ, WH); Department of Pediatric Radiology, Shenzhen Children Hospital (CZ); Department of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Shenzhen Children Hospital (ZT); and Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China (HZ).
Insights
Shunt treatment for pediatric hydrocephalus may improve white matter integrity, as shown by diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) trends toward normalization. DTI can track these long-term changes in brain anatomy after surgery.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Pediatric Neurology
- White Matter Diseases
Background:
- Hydrocephalus in infants can lead to white matter abnormalities.
- Assessing the long-term impact of surgical intervention is crucial for pediatric neurodevelopment.
Observation:
- A case study of a 6-month-old boy with hydrocephalus evaluated using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) before and after shunt surgery.
- Pre-shunt DTI revealed decreased fractional anisotropy and increased radial diffusivity in key white matter tracts (corpus callosum, internal capsule, corona radiata).
Findings:
- Post-shunt DTI demonstrated a trend toward normalization of fractional anisotropy and radial diffusivity values.
- Successful cerebrospinal fluid shunting appeared to halt further brain damage and aid in anatomical recovery.
Implications:
- Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is a valuable tool for monitoring longitudinal white matter changes post-shunt operation in pediatric hydrocephalus.
- Further research with larger cohorts is necessary to confirm the long-term neuroprotective effects of shunting on white matter integrity.
Abstract:
The goal of this study was to detect the long-term effect of shunting on the integrity of white matter in young children with hydrocephalus.The authors reported the case of a 6-month-old boy with hydrocephalus who was evaluated by diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) before and after a shunt operation.When compared with normal children, the structures of the corpus callosum, internal capsule, and corona radiata in the patient showed a decrease in fractional anisotropy and an increase in radial diffusivity values before the shunt operation. Following successful cerebrospinal fluid shunting, long-term follow-up DTI demonstrated a trend toward normalization of the fractional anisotropy and radial diffusivity values.Shunt treatment can prevent further damage to the brain and grossly reconstitute the distorted anatomy. DTI could be a useful tool in detecting longitudinal changes after a shunt operation. Further studies involving larger case numbers are needed to detect the long-term effect of shunting on the brains of children with hydrocephalus.
