communicating hydrocephalus


com·mu·ni·cat·ing hy·dro·ceph·a·lus

type of hydrocephalus in which there is an abnormality in cerebrospinal fluid absorption; there is no obstruction to cerebrospinal fluid flow in the ventricular system or where the cerebrospinal fluid passes into the spinal canal.

communicating hydrocephalus

Normal pressure hydrocephalus Neurology An enlargement of cerebral ventricles due to ↑ secretion and/or ↓ production and absorption of CSF, where the ventricular conduits are open, and the fluid moves freely into the spinal subarachnoid space, but is blocked by obliteration of the subarachnoid cisterns around the brainstem or subarachnoid spaces over the cerebral convexities Etiology Arnold-Chiari malformation, infections–eg, bacterial meningitis, toxoplasmosis, CMV, or other viral meningitides, subarachnoid hemorrhage, ↑ production of CSF–eg, choroid plexus papilloma, Hurler syndrome due to fibrosis in the subarachnoid space, or hypervitaminosis A

com·mu·ni·cat·ing hy·dro·ceph·a·lus

(kŏ-myūn'i-kāt-ing hī'drō-sef'ă-lŭs) Type of hydrocephalus in which there is an abnormality in cerebrospinal fluid absorption; there is no obstruction to cerebrospinal fluid flow in the ventricular system or where the cerebrospinal fluid passes into the vertebral canal.