Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, Treatment and Outcome

This book provides a detailed practically focused guide on the latest diagnostic and treatment techniques available for normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH).  Chapters in this work cover the latest developments related to this condition. It introduces how to use a range of diagnostic modalities including magnetic resonance scanning along with how artificial intelligence and machine learning methodologies can be applied. Cases are presented to reinforce how the methods covered can be appropriately applied and guiding principles are also given to assist the reader in developing a thorough understanding of the topic. Potential complications and means of mitigating these are also described. 

Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus is a detailed practically applicable resource on NPH with insightful contributions covering relevant aspects of pathophysiology, diagnostic modalities and treatment strategies, making it an ideal resource for all medical practitioners whoencounter these patients. 

Introduction.- Why a book about iNPH.- Acknowledgement.- History.- Hakim´s discovery of NPH.- Fundamental discoveries in the last decades.- Epidemiology.- Pathophysiology.- Clinical symptoms and examination.- Major symptoms.- Minor symptoms.- Gait characteristics of NPH.- Differential diagnostics of gait impairment.- Psychological profile of NPH patients.- Differential diagnostics against other types of dementias.- Urinary disorder associated with NPH.- Differential diagnostics of urinary disorder.- Neurodegenerative comorbidities and iNPH mimics.- Invasive diagnostic test.- External lumbar drainage.- CSF tap test.- Lumbar infusion test.- Other invasive tests.- Laboratory findings of NPH.- Imaging.- Basic CT and MRI indices.- DESH, callosal angle and cingulate sulcus sign.- Novel MRI indices and imaging models.- Volumetr.- DT.- Phase-contrast MRI.- Novel MRI techniques (elastography, glymphatic pathway imaging) and their implications.- Imaging differential diagnosis.- Potential of machine learning in NPH diagnostics.- Shuntology - treatment of NPH.- Ventriculoperitoneal shunt.- Surgical technique.- Valve types.- Valve setting.- Other types of shunt.- Ventriculoatrial shunt.- Lumboperitoneal shunt.- Role of endoscopy in NPH treatment.- Future directions of valve technology.- Complications.- Surgical complications.- Infection.- Underdrainage and Overdrainage.- Follow-up.- Clinical follow-up.- Imaging follow-up.- Invasive tests in follow-up.- Prognosis and outcomes.- When to revise the shunt?.- Future perspectives.- Summary.