Types of Hydrocephalus

Hydrocephalus can be broken down into several types, including congenital, acquired, communicating, and non-communicating. The types of hydrocephalus have different symptoms, which will vary depending on the cause and the type of the disorder.

 

What Are the Types of Hydrocephalus?

There are several different types of hydrocephalus. These types include:
 
  • Congenital hydrocephalus
  • Acquired hydrocephalus
  • Communicating hydrocephalus
  • Non-communicating hydrocephalus
  • Hydrocephalus ex-vacuo
  • Normal pressure hydrocephalus.
     

Congenital Versus Acquired Hydrocephalus

Congenital hydrocephalus is present at birth and may be caused by environmental influences during fetal development or by genetic factors.
 
Acquired hydrocephalus develops at the time of birth or at some point afterward. This type of hydrocephalus can affect individuals of all ages and may be caused by injury or disease.
 

Communicating Versus Non-Communicating Hydrocephalus

Communicating hydrocephalus occurs when the flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is blocked after it exits the ventricles. This form is called communicating, because the CSF can still flow between the ventricles, which remain open.
 
Non-communicating hydrocephalus -- also called "obstructive" hydrocephalus -- occurs when the flow of CSF is blocked along one or more of the narrow pathways connecting the ventricles. One of the most common causes of hydrocephalus is "aqueductal stenosis." In this case, hydrocephalus results from a narrowing of the aqueduct of Sylvius, a small passageway between the third and fourth ventricles in the middle of the brain.
 
(Types of Hydrocephalus Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD