Hydrocephalus case study one

Case Study 1

Clinical Summary One interesting case involving a person with past hydrocephalus was a 44-year old French man, whose brain had been reduced to little more than a thin sheet of actual brain tissue, due to the buildup of fluid in his skull. The man, who had a shunt inserted into his head to drain away fluid (which was removed when he was 14), went to a hospital after he had been experiencing mild weakness in his left leg.

Imaging findings

• Computed tomography (CT) scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were done which showed "massive enlargement" of the lateral ventricles in the skull and virtual absence of the brain.
• Intelligence tests showed the man had an IQ of 75, below the average score of 100 but not considered mentally retarded or disabled, either.