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Updated: May 12, 2026

Neuronavigation and Laparoscopy Guided Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Insertion for the Treatment of Hydrocephalus
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Paediatric hydrocephalus

Kristopher T Kahle1,2,3, Petra M Klinge4, Jenna E Koschnitzky5

  • 1Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. kahle.kristopher@mgh.harvard.edu.

Nature Reviews. Disease Primers
|May 16, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Hydrocephalus, a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) imbalance, causes ventricle expansion. Advances in genomics and imaging offer new hope for precise prognostication and non-surgical treatments for this condition.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Pediatrics
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Hydrocephalus involves cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) imbalance, leading to cerebral ventricle expansion.
  • It presents as increased head circumference in infants and elevated intracranial pressure in older children.
  • Causes include genetic mutations (congenital) or CNS infection/hemorrhage (acquired).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide a comprehensive overview of hydrocephalus, encompassing its pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and current management strategies.
  • To highlight the impact of recent technological advancements on understanding and treating hydrocephalus.
  • To explore the evolving landscape of hydrocephalus research and therapeutic development.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on hydrocephalus pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment.
  • Analysis of clinical presentations in different age groups.
  • Discussion of genetic factors, neuroimaging, and emerging technologies.

Main Results:

  • Hydrocephalus is characterized by disrupted CSF homeostasis and ventricular enlargement.
  • Clinical manifestations vary with age, ranging from increased head circumference to signs of elevated intracranial pressure.
  • Current treatments involve surgical CSF shunting or endoscopic procedures, with in utero options available for fetal cases.

Conclusions:

  • Long-term outcomes are influenced by genetic and environmental factors.
  • Genomics, advanced brain imaging, and other technologies are crucial for refining diagnosis, improving prognostication, and identifying novel non-surgical treatments.
  • Continued research is essential for advancing hydrocephalus care and improving patient outcomes.

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