¹³¹I-RIHSA CSF scanning in pediatric neurosurgical practice

Abstract

Sixty children aged between one month and fifteen years were submitted to RIHSA cisternography and/or ventriculography for a variety of lesions affecting the CSF pathways. These included cases of hydrocephalus and other congenital malformations of the central nervous system, posttraumatic and post meningitic sequelae. The investigation has been found to be valuable not only in differentiating between arrested and progressive hydrocephalus but also in unmasking associated anomalies of CSF flow and pathways in cases of meningomyelocele and encephalocele. It is excellent for delineating a CSF fistula and can also be utilised to demonstrate the size and extent of a subdural hematoma or hygroma. Pathological concentration and delayed clearance of the isotope in the region underlying the skull defect was a consistent finding in all cases of growing fracture (craniocerebral erosion). Single or multiple sites of blocks were observed in cases of postmeningitic (tuberculous) sequelae.