Shazia F Khan, Nuwayrah Jawaid.
Validity of cranial ultrasound as a screening tool for hydrocephalus in infants.
Ann Pak Inst Med Sci Jan ;2(4):229-31.

Background and Objective: Hydrocephalus is the excessive accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the normal CSF pathways of the brain, caused by an imbalance between CSF production and absorption. Cranial ultrasound through open fontanelles and CT scan are the mainstay of diagnosis, detecting and characterizing the hydrocephalus. This study was conducted to assess the validity of cranial ultrasound as a screening tool for hydrocephalus in infants up to 6 months of age. Study Design: Descriptive study. Place and Duration: The study was conducted from March 2005 to February 2006 at the Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), Islamabad. Material and Methods: 50 infants were evaluated for hydrocephalus by cranial ultrasound and confirmed by axial CT. Ultrasound and CT scans were evaluated by Radiology resident and confirmed by consultant Radiologist. Results: Cranial ultrasound was able to detect 48 out of 50 cases. 2 cases were false negative on ultrasound and were subsequently diagnosed as having hydrocephalus on CT scan. Conclusion: Ultrasound is a valuable screening tool for hydrocephalus being less expensive, easily repeatable and involving no ionizing radiation as compared to CT. However CT scan is of value in identifying the correct level of obstruction.

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