Clinical Value of Radionuclide Shuntography by Qualitative Methods in Hydrocephalic Adult Patients With Suspected Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Malfunction

Cerebrospinal fluid ventriculoperitoneal (V-P) shunts are often used in the treatment of hydrocephalus. Complications from shunts are not uncommon and can present with a variety of signs and symptoms, which could be evaluated by clinical examination and neuro-imaging. The radionuclide cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunt study provides a simple, effective, and low-radiation-dose method of assessing CSF shunt patency. When a discrepancy between neurological examination and imaging, additional radionuclide shuntography can be helpful. The purpose of the study was to analyze in the imaging findings and clinical interpretation of a variety of shuntography results and to determine the applicability of shuntography in patients with suspected shunt malfunction.

The investigators include all radionuclide shuntographic tests using (99m)technetium-pertechnetate (DTPA) performed between August 2005 and December 2015 in our department. No complications or discomfort were noted in the examinations. The results of shuntography were evaluated visually and qualitatively, and correlated with clinical follow-up. The tests were interpreted as normal and abnormal, including complete distal obstruction, partial distal obstruction or miscellaneous. Clinical outcomes within 30 days were defined based on subsequent need for revision, re-implantation or adjustment of shunt pressure. Then the investigators calculated the sensitivity (Se), specificity (Sp), positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) and overall accuracy. The investigators would also determine the correlation with operative findings and assessment of radionuclide shuntography.