Long-Term Experience With Isotope Cisternography

Isotope cisternography and ventriculography were performed on 106 patients with various neurological disorders. Both the normal cisternogram and the abnormal patterns were encountered in this series. Of 14 cases of cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea, all but two were correctly diagnosed. In 44 patients with communicating hydrocephalus, the tests were used as criteria for selecting those suitable for shunting procedures. Only a few abnormal cisternograms were encountered in a group of 25 children suspected of having compensated hydrocephalus. Fifteen patients with various shunts were observed with follow-up examinations to determine the patency and efficacy of the shunts. Isotope cisternography and ventriculography complemented the roentgenographic studies in determining the specific etiology of hydrocephalus in a small group of patients.