Alterations in ventricular size and intracranial pressure caused by sagittal sinus pathology in man
Abstract
Lumbar cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure and ventricular size were determined in six patients with impairment of cerebral venous outflow caused by either sagittal sinus thrombosis or arteriovenous shunting into the sagittal sinus. None of the patients had enlargement of the ventricular system, but all six had elevated CSF pressure (mean, 30 mm Hg). At least two mechanisms sufficient to prevent ventricular enlargement and significant hydrocephalus are suggested by these cases: 1) intracranial pressure elevations that occur as a result of cerebral venous outflow impediment maintain a positive pressure gradient between the intracranial CSF and the sagittal sinus contents, thereby increasing bulk CSF outflow; 2) in adults, increased function of alternative CSF outflow pathways occurs secondary to sagittal sinus thrombosis across the arachnoid villi of other intracranial vascular structures and in the spine. These mechanisms may have general importance in the generation of hydrocephalus caused by other disease states in adults but not in children.
References
Superior sagittal sinus thrombosis: an evaluation of the changes demonstrated on computed tomography
Citations
Age-dependent changes of cerebral ventricular size. Part I: Review of intracranial fluid collections
Related Concepts
Related Feeds
CSF & Lymphatic System
This feed focuses on Cerebral Spinal Fluid (CSF) and the lymphatic system. Discover the latest papers using imaging techniques to track CSF outflow into the lymphatic system in animal models.
Cardiomegaly
Cardiomegaly, known as an enlarged heart, is a multifactorial disease with different pathophysiological mechanisms. Hypertension, pregnancy, exercise-induced and idiopathic causes are some mechanisms of cardiomegaly. Discover the latest research of cardiomegaly here.