Moving silicone oil particles in the ventricle: a case report and updated review

The movement of intraventricular silicone oil observed in the supine position is extremely rare. Herein, we describe a patient who presented with dynamically moving silicone oil particles in the ventricle when changing position and provide an updated review of this phenomenon.

We report a case of a 70-year-old woman who presented with intraventricular hyperdensities that were occasionally found on brain computed tomography (CT). Initial nonenhanced brain CT demonstrated nondependent hyperdensities in the bilateral anterior horns of the lateral ventricles, the third ventricle, and the right suprasellar cistern, mimicking an intraventricular hemorrhage. Further brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the supine position revealed abnormal signals in the bilateral anterior horns of the lateral ventricles, the posterior horn of the right lateral ventricle, the third ventricle, the right suprasellar cistern, and the bilateral eyeballs, with isosignal intensities surrounded by low-signal chemical shift artifacts on T₁-weighted imaging and variable signals (hypo- or hyperintensity) on T₂-weighted imaging. The lesion in the anterior horn of the right ventricle largely moved to the posterior horn of the ipsilateral ventricle. The final craniocervical CT angiography showed that the lesion in the posterior horn had moved back to the anterior horn of the right lateral ventricle. These features were consistent with intraventricular silicone oil migration. The final spinal MRI did not demonstrate a migration of silicone oil into the spinal subarachnoid space.

This case report describes a dynamic process of silicone oil displacement in the supine position and provides a comprehensive imaging presentation. The moving pattern and a characteristic chemical shift artifact on MRI are key to the diagnosis and may help prevent unnecessary examinations or intervention.