A significant number of shunt-dependent children and adults are plagued by chronic, often disabling headaches. These are usually not associated with other symptoms of increased intracranial pressure, and neuro-diagnostic studies usually do not reveal evidence of a shunt malfunction. In most cases the CAT or MR scan small ventricles. The condition of small ventricles on CAT or MR scan coupled with chronic headache complaint has been termed the Slit Ventricle Syndrome .
Small ventricles are a desirable result of shunting, but they can sometimes cause problems.
There are a number of therapeutic options. In the first place it is essential that a CAT scan be carried out while the patient is symptomatic. This is because an intermittent shunt malfunction may masquerade as slit ventricle syndrome with the fluid spaces only enlarging at the time of malfunction. Scans done when the individual is asymptomatic will show the ventricles to be unchanged in comparison to scans done previously when the patient was asymptomatic. Other causes for headaches are searched for on the scan such as sinusitis.