Hydrocephalus

Overview

Mayo Clinic is one of the world's leading centers for treatment of neurological diseases, including hydrocephalus.

Hydrocephalus occurs when excess cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) builds up in the brain, causing elevated pressure that damages the brain tissue. Hydrocephalus may cause brain damage and, if left untreated, death.

At Mayo Clinic, experienced and highly trained specialists from Neurology, Neurosurgery and Child and Adolescent Neurology work together to diagnose hydrocephalus and determine the most appropriate treatment for each patient. What might take months to accomplish in other settings may be done in days in Mayo's efficient system.

Diagnosis and treatment of hydrocephalus depend on the age of the patient and any underlying disorders affecting the condition. Hydrocephalus may be congenital (present at birth) or it may develop later in life. Most patients are treated within their first year of life.

Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, is ranked No. 1 in Neurology & Neurosurgery in the U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals rankings. Mayo Clinic also ranks among the Best Children's Hospitals in Neurology & Neurosurgery.

Diagnosis

At Mayo Clinic, experienced physicians generally use ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to diagnose and confirm hydrocephalus in unborn children and infants. Ultrasound will indicate the presence of CSF in the ventricles of the brain. MRI will also show underlying causes of the condition, such as a brain tumor or infection.

Older children and adults who develop symptoms of hydrocephalus receive a thorough physical and neurological exam, including compilation of a complete medical history. Mayo specialists may use MRI or computed tomography (CT) to provide detailed pictures of the brain.

Mayo Clinic provides many tools to help specialists clarify abnormal findings and ensure an accurate diagnosis. Read more about hydrocephalus diagnosis at Mayo Clinic.

Treatment

The most common treatment for hydrocephalus is the surgical insertion of a shunt (a drainage system) that channels excess CSF from the brain to another part of the body where it can be absorbed.

Ventriculostomy is another treatment option that may be used if, for example, the flow of CSF between ventricles is obstructed. In ventriculostomy, the surgeon makes a hole in the bottom of one of the brain's ventricles to allow the cerebrospinal fluid to flow toward the base of the brain, where normal absorption occurs. Ventriculostomy eliminates the need to insert a shunt into the body.

Read more about hydrocephalus treatment options at Mayo Clinic.

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About Hydrocephalus

The brain produces continuously. CSF circulates through the spinal column and over the outside of the brain. It provides nourishment, carries away the waste products of metabolism, and protects the brain and spinal cord from injury before being absorbed into the body and discarded. Hydrocephalus is abnormal accumulation of CSF in the ventricles (cavities) of the brain.

Excess CSF trapped in the brain leads to increased pressure, causing the ventricles to expand. In adults, whose skulls no longer are able to expand, the outcome may be headaches, blurred vision, problems with balance and memory loss. In fetuses, newborns and infants, whose skull bones are flexible and not yet fused, excess CSF causes the individual skull bones to bulge outward where they meet. The result is often an abnormally large head.

Read more about hydrocephalus at www.MayoClinic.com.