Clinical, Radiological, and Demographic Details of Benign External Hydrocephalus: A Population-Based Study.
Delivery, Obstetric
/ statistics & numerical data
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Head
/ diagnostic imaging
Humans
Hydrocephalus
/ diagnostic imaging
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Lateral Ventricles
/ diagnostic imaging
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Norway
/ epidemiology
Retrospective Studies
Subarachnoid Space
/ diagnostic imaging
Benign external hydrocephalus
Head circumference
Hydrocephalus
Infants
Neuroimaging
Journal
Pediatric neurology
ISSN: 1873-5150
Titre abrégé: Pediatr Neurol
Pays: United States
ID NLM: 8508183
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
07 2019
07 2019
Historique:
received:
23
11
2018
revised:
16
01
2019
accepted:
22
01
2019
pubmed:
28
2
2019
medline:
2
5
2020
entrez:
28
2
2019
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Benign external hydrocephalus has an incidence of about 0.4 per 1000 live births. It affects infants and is characterized by an increasing head circumference and typical neuroimaging findings. Previously published studies on benign external hydrocephalus often contain groups of few and selected patients. This is a follow-up of a recently published article reporting the incidence of benign external hydrocephalus. This retrospective and population-based study covers two large health regions in Norway, over a 10-year period (1994 to 2003). Infants with increasing head circumference, combined with typical radiological findings of enlarged subarachnoid spaces, were included. Information about head circumference development, neuroimaging findings, and birth delivery methods, as well as demographic details, was retrieved from the hospital medical records. A total of 176 children with benign external hydrocephalus were included, 86.4% being boys. At birth, the head circumference was close to normal. Mean age for when the head circumference reached abnormal values, i.e., crossing two percentiles or reaching the 97.5 percentile, was 3.4 months; none was older than seven months. Around four of five children had dilated lateral ventricles in addition to enlarged subarachnoid spaces. The neuroimaging findings tended to normalize after age 12 months. About half of the patients ended up with head circumferences at or above the 97.5 percentile. Most infants with benign external hydrocephalus are born with a normal head circumference that increases too fast and reaches abnormally high values before age six months. This age and gender distribution is very similar to that described for infant subdural hemorrhage.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
Benign external hydrocephalus has an incidence of about 0.4 per 1000 live births. It affects infants and is characterized by an increasing head circumference and typical neuroimaging findings. Previously published studies on benign external hydrocephalus often contain groups of few and selected patients.
METHODS
This is a follow-up of a recently published article reporting the incidence of benign external hydrocephalus. This retrospective and population-based study covers two large health regions in Norway, over a 10-year period (1994 to 2003). Infants with increasing head circumference, combined with typical radiological findings of enlarged subarachnoid spaces, were included. Information about head circumference development, neuroimaging findings, and birth delivery methods, as well as demographic details, was retrieved from the hospital medical records.
RESULTS
A total of 176 children with benign external hydrocephalus were included, 86.4% being boys. At birth, the head circumference was close to normal. Mean age for when the head circumference reached abnormal values, i.e., crossing two percentiles or reaching the 97.5 percentile, was 3.4 months; none was older than seven months. Around four of five children had dilated lateral ventricles in addition to enlarged subarachnoid spaces. The neuroimaging findings tended to normalize after age 12 months. About half of the patients ended up with head circumferences at or above the 97.5 percentile.
CONCLUSIONS
Most infants with benign external hydrocephalus are born with a normal head circumference that increases too fast and reaches abnormally high values before age six months. This age and gender distribution is very similar to that described for infant subdural hemorrhage.
Identifiants
pubmed: 30808532
pii: S0887-8994(18)31246-3
doi: 10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2019.01.015
pii:
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
53-57Commentaires et corrections
Type : CommentIn
Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.