Hydrocephalus

Hydrocephalus — from the Greek word for water (hydro) and head (cephalus) — occurs when abnormal amounts of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) accumulate in the brain's cavities, called subarachnoid space.

Cerebrospinal fluid is a clear, colorless liquid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord, protecting them from injury. It carries nutrients to the brain and spinal cord and takes away waste. In a healthy person, the amount of this fluid produced by the brain is absorbed by the body. In hydrocephalus, the fluid fails to drain and accumulates, leading to pressure on the brain.

A build-up of this fluid may result from one of three reasons:

• Too much CSF is being produced, a condition known as choroid plexus papilloma.
• The flow of CSF through the cerebrospinal system is blocked.
• The brain is not reabsorbing enough of the fluid.

Hydrocephalus may be congenital — caused by a brain malformation or birth defect affecting one out of every 1,000 newborns — or acquired, occuring after birth when a tumor, injury or disease blocks the absorption of cerebrospinal fluid.

At UCSF Children's Hospital, our team of doctors and other medical professionals will thoroughly evaluate your child and design a treatment plan for your child's medical condition, state of health and individual needs.

You may need a referral from your child's primary care doctor. Please check with your medical benefits or health insurance representative.

Reviewed by health care specialists at UCSF Children's Hospital.
Last updated May 8, 2007