Friday 18 November 2011

Mild lateral ventricle Asymmetry

First of all rule out obliquity and improper alignment of pt's head during scanning, the major source of error during assessment of asymmetry of lateral ventricle and cerebral hemispheres.
Next is grading of asymmetry, as mild moderate and severe.

Mild asymmetry is usually seen secondary to off midline septum pellucidum, where rest of the lateral ventricle  and its horns are symmetrical, normal and non dilated. Adjacent basal ganglia show normal volume and density.


Prevalence of mild asymmetry of lateral ventricle in our routine opd work load is approximately 5 percent. Headache was the most common symptom in pt with asymmetry of lateral ventricle and were treated conservatively. Seizures was the second common complaint in this group. Giddiness and neuropsychiatric problems like schizophrenia in few. Widening of left lateral ventricle is more common that right. No obvious association found between asymmetry of lateral ventricle with right or left handedness.

To pass if off as normal finding or variant, it should be an isolated finding, without any obvious cause like volume loss due to an adjacent basal ganglionic gliosis or atrophy, without any intra ventricular or para ventricular space occupying lesion,  without any trapping lateral ventricular secondary ependymal adhesions.
It is important to differentiate between moderate and severe asymmetry of lateral ventricle from unilateral hydrocephalus which is done by using three different ventricle to brain ratios (V/B ratios).

Conclusion:
Mild asymmetry in lateral ventricle can be passed off as a normal anatomical variation if not associated with any intra ventricular or adjacent parenchymal abnormality; at the most make a note of finding in the report. Moderate and severe degree of asymmetry of lateral ventricle should not be overlooked, search for possible accompanying pathology or association with cognitive disorders. 


Related Posts:
Unilateral hydrocephalus
Post shunt lateral ventricle asymmetry

15 comments:

Vinodh said...

Sir i took my ct scan and i have mild asymmetry of lateral ventricles seen R>L. before i took ct scan. i experienced a small problem. i tried to write some numbers i found i could not write it properly or clearly my hand did not cooperate. Rest i was fine and everything was normal. Also i keep getting pains in my thighs at different times but only for one minute or so. What can be my real problem. Please help me.

Dr Dhanesh Vijayan said...

In this case the left lateral ventricle appears larger than the right, in the posterior body region also, not only at the frontal horn level. So is it OK to suggest this as essentially a normal variant?

Unknown said...

My MRI scan shows, asymmetric prominence of left ventricle, this could be a normal variation.
But, I'm feeling tirednes, foggy brain under lights,slight uneasiness in left part of head.

Unknown said...

I have left lateral ventricle slightly prominant than right. And i yhink i have obssesive compulsive disorder. Is there any corelation between these two ? Also is there any chances of glioma or other tumour condition with alv ?

Unknown said...

I have left lateral ventricle slightly prominant than right. And i yhink i have obssesive compulsive disorder. Is there any corelation between these two ? Also is there any chances of glioma or other tumour condition with alv ?

Unknown said...

I had an MRI of my brain done and I have mild congenital lateral ventricular asymmetry. Accompanied with bilateral dilated perivascular spaces. A cyst on my pineal gland. Partially empty sella and left concha bullosa. Should I be concerned?

Annemariediva@live.ca said...

I have asymmetry of the right ventricle which my neurologist thinks is congenital. However when I was about ten years old I suffered severe head trauma, fractured skull, concussion and spinal damage to my C4 and L5 of my spine. This was the result of a diving accident where I slipped off a person's shoulder and plunged head first into the water. It was a straight hit, not diagonal. I'm sure the assume try is a result of that accident and not congenital. What should I do? Damage can't be reversed. Neuro tests were carried out and the results suggested poor effort even though I put all my efforts into the testing. Basically, the tester didn't believe I made an effort and dismissed the results of the testing, resulting in a non approval of disability compensation.

Bhanu said...

Yesterday my wife undergone for ultrasound scan and found that prominent intracranial left lateral ventricle.RV is 7mm and LV is 10mm.is baby will face because of this assymmetry

Unknown said...

Sir ,mild asymmetry in lateral ventricle seen rest all are normal in MRI scan, please guide what issues with this factor and what precautions need to rectify this

Unknown said...

Sir i took my ct scan and this is the report :- There is a asymmetrical inlargement of right letrial ventrical,and left and third are normal.plz reply i am tensend

Anonymous said...

Hello Sir

My daughter She is only 3 and half. doctor say she has left lateral ventomagly dilated frontal horns measuring 6 to7 mm .She do not vomet.Her weight was 2kg when born know she is 3kg.... the only thing she do her eyes fliker once or twice in day.Sir please sugess

Unknown said...

what is peoblem when B/L lateral and 3rd ventricles

Anonymous said...

Hi, my son is now 8 months old. When he was 4 months old he had a few episodes of seizures and was observed for a few days in hospital. They did a CT scan and seen there was asymmetry of the ventricles and then they did an MRI scan which confirmed this. Looking at scan from the back of my sons head it’s the right ventricle that is bigger. The paediatric neurologist said it’s slightly bigger. I didn’t feel that he helped me very much with regards to explaining. Could you tell me if this was to affect him, what sort of things would it be? He’s been told he’s slightly delayed because he’s not sitting on his (he does for short periods of time) and is not babbling (does make noises and sounds and actually says hi/hiya which the neurologist didn’t believe). He’s such a loved and happy boy other than when he’s teething bless him. Hope you can help me with understanding. Thanks

Merjan Tahir said...

Sir, i took my mri and reports say everything else is normal but i have mild asymmetrical lateral ventricles (right > left). I feel throbbing pain in my head and some kind of painful currents flowing from the back side of head directing towards forehead. I usually get my blood pressure abruptly high, somewhere around 140/120 every now and then. It sometimes feels like something is piercing right into my head. That time i get goosebumps all over my body. I have been on anti-depressants since age 5. Sir please help me fix my problems. I really need your attention.Hopefully waiting for your reply.

Merjan Tahir said...

Sir i took mri scan and the reports say everything else is normal but i have mild asymmetrical lateral ventricles R>L. i feel throbbing pain in my head and seizures sometimes. I got my epileptic spells normal. I have blood pressure issues. A doctor concluded that i am suffering from hypertension grade - II. I am on anti-depressants since age 5 or 6. And now i feel like my body is malfunctioning. Sir please help me fix it. Hopefully waiting fro your reply.