"It is actually a term that causes confusion as used in the above sense implies that communicating hydrocephalus does not have an obstruction to CSF flow/absorption; this is not true as the majority of cases of communicating hydrocephalus have obstruction to CSF flow through the subarachnoid space or impaired absorption at the arachnoid granulations."
Expected headings
"Acute obstructive hydrocephalus"
"Chronic non-communicating obstructive hydrocephalus"
"It is actually a term that causes confusion as used in the above sense implies that communicating hydrocephalus does not have an obstruction to CSF flow/absorption; this is not true as the majority of cases of communicating hydrocephalus have obstruction to CSF flow through the subarachnoid space or impaired absorption at the arachnoid granulations."
"obstructing tumour or mass (e.g. tectal plate glioma, colloid cyst)"
"Both CT and MRI (and ultrasound in the neonatal period) can demonstrate most of the features, although the underlying cause may be better demonstrated with specific sequences (e.g. a web across the aqueduct causing aqueduct stenosis will only be visible on dedicated high-resolution MRI images)."
"Treatment depends on the cause and location of the obstruction. In some patients with temporary obstruction (such as with subarachnoid haemorrhage), temporary CSF diversion is sufficient (e.g. via an external ventricular drain (EVD)). Similarly, if the cause is mechanical, it may be possible to resect the mass (e.g. colloid cyst)."