THE RADIOGRAPHIC RESTORATION OF THE VENTRICULAR SYSTEM AFTER 3RD VENTRICULOSTOMY

Ten adult patients were treated by third ventriculostomy for idiopathi c aqueductal stenosis. Idiopathic aqueductal stenosis was diagnosed ac cording to MR imaging; aqueductal stenosis secondary to tumor, hemorrh age, and/or infection was excluded. Following a third ventriculostomy under a flexible neuroendoscope, all patients were reviewed at 1, 3, 6 , 12, and 24 months, and MR images with ventricular measurements were repeated for evaluation of the radiographic restoration of the ventric ular system. The ventricular structures arranged in order of restorati on were the size of the III ventricle, the upward deviation of the bra in stem, and the size of the lateral ventricle in response to third ve ntriculostomy. The restoration of the whole ventricle steadied within two years. Our results contribute new information regarding restoratio n of the ventricular system under aqueductal stenosis and produce evid ence that third ventriculostomy is a reasonable treatment based upon t he patient's physiological condition.