Long-term prognosis of patients with central cerebral ventricular enlargement

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Abstract
Patients (100) with a 3rd ventricle width of 12 mm or more were examined for the 5th time in 1976 after an average observation period of 20.8 yr. On 1st admission, a predominant etiological factor was found in 27 cases. Two patients had air encephalographic findings indicating normal pressure hydrocephalus. One of these had a shunt operation, however, without improvement. Seventy-one patients had died, 7 patients were in need of care and supervision, 11 patients were unable to work and the remaining 11 were able to work to some extent. The group studied had a significantly increased mortality rate. The causes of death were divided into 3 groups: probably related to the underlying brain disorder, related to those in an average Norwegian population and minor disorder usually not leading to death. The following factors indicated a poor long-term prognosis: serious associated disease, a relatively high age, associated cardiovascular disease, marked degree of ventricular enlargement, marked enlargement of the temporal horns, many and/or marked neurological signs and progressive intellectual deterioration.