Intracranial Dystrophic Calcification of Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt: A Case Report

Pediatr Neurosurg. 2018;53(5):356-359. doi: 10.1159/000491822. Epub 2018 Aug 17.

Abstract

Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunting is one of the most common simple neurosurgical procedures. VP shunt catheters are made of silicone-coated Silastic tubes, which are made to be inert and hardly induce any reaction in normal tissue. We report a rare case of an extensive intracranial calcification of a VP shunt. This is a very rare case of a documented extensive calcification around the ventricular catheter of a VP shunt. We review the previously reported cases in the literature and present our management of the case. We discuss the possible mechanisms for such a dystrophic calcification around a VP shunt.

Keywords: Calcification; Calcinosis; Complications; Hydrocephalus; Ventriculoperitoneal shunt.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Calcinosis / diagnostic imaging
  • Calcinosis / etiology
  • Calcinosis / surgery*
  • Child
  • Humans
  • Hydrocephalus / surgery*
  • Male
  • Neurosurgical Procedures
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt / adverse effects*
  • Ventriculostomy / methods