What is benign external hydrocephalus?

What is benign external hydrocephalus?

Benign external hydrocephalus is defined as a rapidly increasing head circumference (occipitofrontal circumference) with characteristic radiological findings of increased subarachnoid cerebrospinal fluid spaces on neuroimaging.

Does external hydrocephalus go away?

Neuroimaging outcome The frontal subarachnoid enlargement in external hydrocephalus seems to decrease and disappear spontaneously within 2–3 years of age in most patients [34, 75, 91, 105, 110, 118, 123, 125, 128, 130, 144, 152, 167].

How common is benign external hydrocephalus?

Benign external hydrocephalus (BEH) is a condition in infants with an incidence of about 0.4 per 1000 live births [30]. It is defined as a rapid increase in the head circumference, typically around the age of 6 months [32].

What is the difference between internal and external hydrocephalus?

Internal hydrocephalus refers to an accumulation of CSF within the ventricles of the brain. External hydrocephalus refers to accumulation of fluid outside the ventricles.

What is the survival rate of hydrocephalus?

Survival in untreated hydrocephalus is poor. Approximately, 50% of the affected patients die before three years of age and approximately 80% die before reaching adulthood. Treatment markedly improves the outcome for hydrocephalus not associated with tumors, with 89% and 95% survival in two case studies.

What is it called when your head is bigger than your body?

Macrocephaly is a condition in which circumference of the human head is abnormally large. It may be pathological or harmless, and can be a familial genetic characteristic.

Can hydrocephalus be treated without surgery?

Abstract. Hydrocephalus is usually treated by placing an extracranial CSF shunt. Endoscopic third ventriculostomy, however, has been revived recently as a less invasive method for treatment.

Why does your head get bigger as you age?

Most people stop growing sometime around the age of 20. By this time, our skeletons have reached their final size, and the growth plates between bones have fused closed. Once that happens, there is no way for the bones to grow anymore. The only bones that continue to get larger are the skull and the pelvis.

What causes your head to get bigger?

Increased head size may be from any of the following: Benign familial macrocephaly (family tendency toward large head size) Canavan disease (condition that affects how the body breaks down and uses a protein called aspartic acid) Hydrocephalus (buildup of fluid inside the skull that leads to brain swelling)

How long can you live with untreated hydrocephalus?

What should you not do with hydrocephalus?

However, people with LP shunts should avoid any activity which involves twisting at the waist, as this can dislodge the shunt.

• Martial arts. Any activity that involves being grabbed around the neck is not advised, as the shunt tubing in the neck can crack.
• Rugby.
• Gymnastics and dance.
• Water sports.
• Golf.
• Other activities.