Additive Value of Nuclear Medicine Shuntograms to Computed Tomography for Suspected Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunt Obstruction in the Pediatric Emergency Department

Abstract

Over one third of pediatric ED patients evaluated with CT and CSF shuntograms required surgical management. Sensitivity was increased with CT and CSF shuntogram compared with CT alone. Prospective studies are required to assess the use of radiographic and nuclear medicine tests for the shunt evaluation in conjunction with the development of a clinical prediction rule for the pediatric emergency physician.