J Korean Neurosurg Soc.  2002 Dec;32(6):595-598.

A Case of Cerebrospinal Fluid Flow through Subcutaneous Fibrous Tract after Removal of Distal Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Catheter: Case Report

• Kim JH
• Yoon SH
• Cho KH
• Cho KG

Abstract

We report a case of the functioning long subcutaneous fibrous tract that drained cerebrospinal fluid into peritoneal cavity. A 13 year-old boy whose distal catheter had been removed 10 years before was admitted with intermittent headache and deteriorated mentality. On physical examination, a hard and firm long subcutaneous catheter-like structure was palpable along the tract of the old distal catheter in the neck, anterior chest and abdomen. We could see hydrocephalus on the computed tomography(CT) scan and passage of radioisotope through the long left subcutaneous fibrous tract into abdomen on the shunt function test. After ventriculoperitoneal shunt in the right side, he improved clinically and brain CT scan showed decreased size of ventricles.

Keyword

Subcutaneous fibrous tract; Ventriculoperitoneal shunt

MeSH Terms

Abdomen
Adolescent
Brain
Catheters*
Cerebrospinal Fluid*
Headache
Humans
Hydrocephalus
Male
Neck
Peritoneal Cavity
Physical Examination
Thorax
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt*