Patterns of Hydrocephalus in Rural Haiti: A Computed Tomography-Based Study

Hydrocephalus is a common neurosurgical disorder that can lead to significant disability or death if not promptly identified and treated. Data on the burden of hydrocephalus in low-income countries are limited, given a lack of radiologic resources for the diagnosis of this condition. Here, we present an analysis of patterns of hydrocephalus from a large sample of computed tomography (CT) scans of the head performed at a public hospital in rural Haiti, a low-income country in the Caribbean.

We analyzed reports from 3614 CT scans of the head performed between July 2013 and January 2016 for findings that were consistent with a diagnosis of hydrocephalus (report indicating "hydrocephalus," "ventriculomegaly," or "enlargement of the ventricles"). Extracted data included demographics, study indication, radiologic findings, and reported etiology of hydrocephalus.

In total, 119 scans had findings concerning for hydrocephalus (3.5% of all scans, 6.3% of abnormal scans; age range 0-90 years; median age 35.5 years; 49.6% male). Pediatric patients (<18 years of age) accounted for 39% of cases. In total, 113 of 119 (95%) scans had indications for possible neurosurgical intervention. Among these 113 scans, 36 (30%) scans demonstrated communicating hydrocephalus, 66 (55%) scans demonstrated noncommunicating hydrocephalus (primarily due to intraventricular hemorrhage [27 scans, 23%] or brain tumors [24, 20%]), and 11 (9%) scans were indeterminate regarding whether the hydrocephalus was communicating versus noncommunicating.

In a large sample of CTs performed in a rural low-income setting, hydrocephalus was common, predominantly noncommunicating, and often associated with potentially operable intracranial lesions. Data of this nature can inform research, policy, and clinical collaborations that strengthen the neurosurgical capacity of low-income countries.