[Isolated fourth ventricle simulating the Guillain-Barré's syndrome]

Recently the symptoms caused by isolated dilatation of the fourth ventricle have become the subject of discussion under the name of the Isolated Fourth Ventricle (IFV). IFV is caused by occlusion of the aqueduct of Sylvius as well as the foramen of Luschka and Magendie after shunt procedure for the internal hydrocephalus, although the etiological back-ground is not fully understood yet. Most of the symptoms of hitherto reported cases are due to dysfunction of the lower cranial nerve and cerebellum. We reported an interesting adult case of IFV, whose symptoms were very much simulating the Guillain-Barré's syndrome and were completely relieved with fourth ventricle-peritoneal shunt. Clinical history was analyzed with repeated CT scans and was discussed with review of the literature.