Aqueductal Stenosis and Hydrocephalus after Mumps Encephalitis

Abstract

STENOSIS of the aqueduct of Sylvius is a common cause of human hydrocephalus, occurring most often in infancy but also in childhood and in adult life. In a small proportion of cases, aqueductal narrowing occurs in a genetically determined pattern1 or complicates purulent meningitis and neoplastic disease. In most cases, however, the etiology of the stenosis cannot be determined.Recently, in rodents experimentally infected with human myxoviruses aqueductal stenosis and hydrocephalus were found to develop as delayed sequelae of the acute viral infection.2 Furthermore, by the time these abnormalities became apparent, there was no longer any evidence of infection.3 The . . .