Summary.
Background: This series illustrates the association of communicating hydrocephalus with intracranial non-obstructive schwannomas. This association has commonly been observed, however it has only been reported once previously. Moreover, in all the patients we present, hyperproteinorrhachia was a common denominator. This finding may therefore be the underlying mechanism for hydrocephalus.
Method and findings: Seven patients presenting with intracranial schwannomas along with non-obstructive hydrocephalus and hyperproteinorrhachia are reported. Six had a vestibular schwannoma and presented with a unilateral deafness and various degrees of gait disturbance, urinary incontinence and neuropsychological impairment. Due to their advanced ages, these patients underwent a ventriculo-peritoneal shunt, and their symptoms related to hydrocephalus resolved.
One patient that suffered from hemifacial dysesthesia and memory deficits presented with a non-obstructive trigeminal schwannoma. In this case the tumour was removed and the hydrocephalus was consequently reversed, and the CSF protein content normalized.
Interpretation: The constant finding of hyperproteinorrhachia in all these patients suggests that a high CSF protein content may be the underlying cause of hydrocephalus through a speculative mechanism of decreased CSF resorption.
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Published online January 14, 2003
Correspondence: Jocelyne Bloch, Service de Neurochirurgie, BH-13, 1011 Lausanne CHUV, Switzerland.
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Bloch, J., Vernet, O., Aubé, M. et al. Non-obstructive hydrocephalus associated with intracranial schwannomas: hyperproteinorrhachia as an etiopathological factor?. Acta Neurochir (Wien) 145, 73–78 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00701-002-1021-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00701-002-1021-7