Radiology, Vol 149, 815-818, Copyright © 1983 by Radiological Society of North America
Cerebrospinal shunt flow in adults: radionuclide quantitation with emphasis on patient position
AJ Brendel, S Wynchank, JP Castel, JL Barat, F Leccia and D Ducassou
Radionuclide quantitation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow through a
ventricular shunt using a Cordis-Hakim valve was performed in 78 adults
(138 studies). All remained supine for at least two hours before the study
to avoid possible depletion of ventricular CSF. The absolute flow rate
distinguished shunt adequacy from patency by defining flow of less than 0.1
ml/min. as abnormal. Measurements were performed with the patient first
supine and then erect. When abnormal supine flow was the criterion of
malfunction, all obstructions were detected but there were 6 false
positives. When abnormal erect flow was considered, there were 5 false
negatives. Abnormal flow in both supine and erect positions is a reliable
indication of malfunction. The authors conclude that this technique is
valuable for neurosurgical management of ventricular shunts.
