Dear AuntMinnie.com,
Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) is a vexing neurological condition, causing dementia that is often mistaken for Alzheimer's disease. Reaching an accurate diagnosis is crucial because NPH, unlike Alzheimer's, can be potentially reversed through treatment.
A number of imaging modalities can be used for assessing NPH, with MRI particularly popular, according to an article by contributing writer Sydney Schuster that we're featuring in our MRI Digital Community. Classic signs of the condition include enlarged ventricles and white-matter ischemia, caused by the intracranial buildup of cerebrospinal fluid.
Treatment is controversial: shunts are common, but their success rate is low and they may in fact be overused. And the controversy over shunts could grow if NPH begins to be more accurately diagnosed.
Read all about NPH and imaging's role in identifying the condition by clicking here. If MRI is the focus of your practice, then visit our MRI Digital Community at mri.auntminnie.com for all the latest news on this powerful modality.
