Hydrocephalus-Child

Variant: 1 Infant. Suspected hydrocephalus. Abnormal prenatal imaging or signs or symptoms of elevated intracranial pressure. Initial imaging.

Procedure	Appropriateness Category	Peds Relative Radiation Level
US head	Usually Appropriate	O
MRI head without IV contrast	Usually Appropriate	O
MRI head without IV contrast abbreviated	Usually Appropriate	O
MRI head without and with IV contrast	May Be Appropriate	O
CT head without IV contrast	May Be Appropriate	☢☢☢
MRI head with IV contrast	Usually Not Appropriate	O
MRV head with IV contrast	Usually Not Appropriate	O
MRV head without IV contrast	Usually Not Appropriate	O
CT head with IV contrast	Usually Not Appropriate	☢☢☢
CT head without and with IV contrast	Usually Not Appropriate	☢☢☢☢

Variant: 2 Infant. Known hydrocephalus. Follow-up imaging.

Procedure	Appropriateness Category	Peds Relative Radiation Level
MRI head without IV contrast	Usually Appropriate	O
MRI head without IV contrast abbreviated	Usually Appropriate	O
Radiography head neck chest abdomen	May Be Appropriate	☢☢
US head	May Be Appropriate	O
CT head without IV contrast	May Be Appropriate	☢☢☢
MRI head with IV contrast	Usually Not Appropriate	O
MRI head without and with IV contrast	Usually Not Appropriate	O
MRV head with IV contrast	Usually Not Appropriate	O
MRV head without IV contrast	Usually Not Appropriate	O
CT head with IV contrast	Usually Not Appropriate	☢☢☢
CT head without and with IV contrast	Usually Not Appropriate	☢☢☢☢

Variant: 3 Infant. Macrocephaly. No signs or symptoms of elevated intracranial pressure. Initial imaging.

Procedure	Appropriateness Category	Peds Relative Radiation Level
US head	Usually Appropriate	O
MRI head without IV contrast	Usually Appropriate	O
MRI head without IV contrast abbreviated	Usually Appropriate	O
CT head without IV contrast	May Be Appropriate	☢☢☢
Radiography head neck chest abdomen	Usually Not Appropriate	☢☢
MRI head with IV contrast	Usually Not Appropriate	O
MRI head without and with IV contrast	Usually Not Appropriate	O
MRV head with IV contrast	Usually Not Appropriate	O
MRV head without IV contrast	Usually Not Appropriate	O
CT head with IV contrast	Usually Not Appropriate	☢☢☢
CT head without and with IV contrast	Usually Not Appropriate	☢☢☢☢

Variant: 4 Child greater than 1 year of age. Suspected hydrocephalus. Signs or symptoms of elevated intracranial pressure. Initial imaging.

Procedure	Appropriateness Category	Peds Relative Radiation Level
MRI head without IV contrast	Usually Appropriate	O
MRI head without IV contrast abbreviated	Usually Appropriate	O
CT head without IV contrast	Usually Appropriate	☢☢☢
MRI head without and with IV contrast	May Be Appropriate	O
US head	Usually Not Appropriate	O
MRI head with IV contrast	Usually Not Appropriate	O
MRV head with IV contrast	Usually Not Appropriate	O
MRV head without IV contrast	Usually Not Appropriate	O
CT head with IV contrast	Usually Not Appropriate	☢☢☢
CT head without and with IV contrast	Usually Not Appropriate	☢☢☢☢

Variant: 5 Child greater than 1 year of age. Known hydrocephalus. No signs or symptoms of shunt malfunction. Follow-up imaging.

Procedure	Appropriateness Category	Peds Relative Radiation Level
MRI head without IV contrast	Usually Appropriate	O
MRI head without IV contrast abbreviated	Usually Appropriate	O
CT head without IV contrast	May Be Appropriate	☢☢☢
Radiography head neck chest abdomen	Usually Not Appropriate	☢☢
US head	Usually Not Appropriate	O
MRI head with IV contrast	Usually Not Appropriate	O
MRI head without and with IV contrast	Usually Not Appropriate	O
MRV head with IV contrast	Usually Not Appropriate	O
MRV head without IV contrast	Usually Not Appropriate	O
CT head with IV contrast	Usually Not Appropriate	☢☢☢
CT head without and with IV contrast	Usually Not Appropriate	☢☢☢☢

Variant: 6 Child. Known hydrocephalus with cerebral spinal fluid diversion. Signs or symptoms of shunt malfunction. Follow-up imaging.

Procedure	Appropriateness Category	Peds Relative Radiation Level
Radiography head neck chest abdomen	Usually Appropriate	☢☢
MRI head without IV contrast	Usually Appropriate	O
MRI head without IV contrast abbreviated	Usually Appropriate	O
CT head without IV contrast	Usually Appropriate	☢☢☢
US abdomen	May Be Appropriate	O
MRI head without and with IV contrast	May Be Appropriate	O
Nuclear medicine ventriculography	May Be Appropriate	☢☢☢☢
US head	Usually Not Appropriate	O
MRI head with IV contrast	Usually Not Appropriate	O
MRV head with IV contrast	Usually Not Appropriate	O
MRV head without IV contrast	Usually Not Appropriate	O
CT head with IV contrast	Usually Not Appropriate	☢☢☢
CT head without and with IV contrast	Usually Not Appropriate	☢☢☢☢

Panel Members

Camilo Jaimes, MD^a, Joanne M. Rispoli, MD^b, Jeremy Y. Jones, MD^c, Gregory W. Albert, MD, MPH^d, Thangamadhan Bosemani, MD^e, Hisham Dahmoush, MBBCh^f, Carolina V. Guimaraes, MD^g, Edwin Gulko, MD^h, Cory M. Pfeifer, MD, MS, MPH, MBAⁱ, Jonathan Pindrik, MD^j, Diana P. Rodriguez, MD^k, Bindu N. Setty, MD^l, Sherwin S. Chan, MD, PhD^m

Summary of Literature Review

Introduction/Background

Special Imaging Considerations

Initial Imaging Definition

Initial imaging is defined as imaging at the beginning of the care episode for the medical condition defined by the variant. More than one procedure can be considered usually appropriate in the initial imaging evaluation when:

There are procedures that are equivalent alternatives (ie, only one procedure will be ordered to provide the clinical information to effectively manage the patient’s care)

There are complementary procedures (ie, more than one procedure is ordered as a set or simultaneously wherein each procedure provides unique clinical information to effectively manage the patient’s care).

Discussion of Procedures by Variant

Variant 1:Infant. Suspected hydrocephalus. Abnormal prenatal imaging or signs or symptoms of elevated intracranial pressure. Initial imaging.

Variant 1:Infant. Suspected hydrocephalus. Abnormal prenatal imaging or signs or symptoms of elevated intracranial pressure. Initial imaging.
A. CT head with IV contrast

Variant 1:Infant. Suspected hydrocephalus. Abnormal prenatal imaging or signs or symptoms of elevated intracranial pressure. Initial imaging.
B. CT head without and with IV contrast

Variant 1:Infant. Suspected hydrocephalus. Abnormal prenatal imaging or signs or symptoms of elevated intracranial pressure. Initial imaging.
C. CT head without IV contrast

Variant 1:Infant. Suspected hydrocephalus. Abnormal prenatal imaging or signs or symptoms of elevated intracranial pressure. Initial imaging.
D. MRI head with IV contrast

Variant 1:Infant. Suspected hydrocephalus. Abnormal prenatal imaging or signs or symptoms of elevated intracranial pressure. Initial imaging.
E. MRI head without and with IV contrast

Variant 1:Infant. Suspected hydrocephalus. Abnormal prenatal imaging or signs or symptoms of elevated intracranial pressure. Initial imaging.
F. MRI head without IV contrast

Variant 1:Infant. Suspected hydrocephalus. Abnormal prenatal imaging or signs or symptoms of elevated intracranial pressure. Initial imaging.
G. MRI head without IV contrast abbreviated

Variant 1:Infant. Suspected hydrocephalus. Abnormal prenatal imaging or signs or symptoms of elevated intracranial pressure. Initial imaging.
H. MRV head with IV contrast

Variant 1:Infant. Suspected hydrocephalus. Abnormal prenatal imaging or signs or symptoms of elevated intracranial pressure. Initial imaging.
I. MRV head without IV contrast

Variant 1:Infant. Suspected hydrocephalus. Abnormal prenatal imaging or signs or symptoms of elevated intracranial pressure. Initial imaging.
J. US head

Variant 2:Infant. Known hydrocephalus. Follow-up imaging.

Variant 2:Infant. Known hydrocephalus. Follow-up imaging.
A. CT head with IV contrast

Variant 2:Infant. Known hydrocephalus. Follow-up imaging.
B. CT head without and with IV contrast

Variant 2:Infant. Known hydrocephalus. Follow-up imaging.
C. CT head without IV contrast

Variant 2:Infant. Known hydrocephalus. Follow-up imaging.
D. MRI head with IV contrast

Variant 2:Infant. Known hydrocephalus. Follow-up imaging.
E. MRI head without and with IV contrast

Variant 2:Infant. Known hydrocephalus. Follow-up imaging.
F. MRI head without IV contrast

Variant 2:Infant. Known hydrocephalus. Follow-up imaging.
G. MRI head without IV contrast abbreviated

Variant 2:Infant. Known hydrocephalus. Follow-up imaging.
H. MRV head with IV contrast

Variant 2:Infant. Known hydrocephalus. Follow-up imaging.
I. MRV head without IV contrast

Variant 2:Infant. Known hydrocephalus. Follow-up imaging.
J. Radiography head neck chest abdomen

Variant 2:Infant. Known hydrocephalus. Follow-up imaging.
K. US head

Variant 3:Infant. Macrocephaly. No signs or symptoms of elevated intracranial pressure. Initial imaging.

Variant 3:Infant. Macrocephaly. No signs or symptoms of elevated intracranial pressure. Initial imaging.
A. CT head with IV contrast

Variant 3:Infant. Macrocephaly. No signs or symptoms of elevated intracranial pressure. Initial imaging.
B. CT head without and with IV contrast

Variant 3:Infant. Macrocephaly. No signs or symptoms of elevated intracranial pressure. Initial imaging.
C. CT head without IV contrast

Variant 3:Infant. Macrocephaly. No signs or symptoms of elevated intracranial pressure. Initial imaging.
D. MRI head with IV contrast

Variant 3:Infant. Macrocephaly. No signs or symptoms of elevated intracranial pressure. Initial imaging.
E. MRI head without and with IV contrast

Variant 3:Infant. Macrocephaly. No signs or symptoms of elevated intracranial pressure. Initial imaging.
F. MRI head without IV contrast

Variant 3:Infant. Macrocephaly. No signs or symptoms of elevated intracranial pressure. Initial imaging.
G. MRI head without IV contrast abbreviated

Variant 3:Infant. Macrocephaly. No signs or symptoms of elevated intracranial pressure. Initial imaging.
H. MRV head with IV contrast

Variant 3:Infant. Macrocephaly. No signs or symptoms of elevated intracranial pressure. Initial imaging.
I. MRV head without IV contrast

Variant 3:Infant. Macrocephaly. No signs or symptoms of elevated intracranial pressure. Initial imaging.
J. Radiography head neck chest abdomen

Variant 3:Infant. Macrocephaly. No signs or symptoms of elevated intracranial pressure. Initial imaging.
K. US head

Variant 4:Child greater than 1 year of age. Suspected hydrocephalus. Signs or symptoms of elevated intracranial pressure. Initial imaging.

Variant 4:Child greater than 1 year of age. Suspected hydrocephalus. Signs or symptoms of elevated intracranial pressure. Initial imaging.
A. CT head with IV contrast

Variant 4:Child greater than 1 year of age. Suspected hydrocephalus. Signs or symptoms of elevated intracranial pressure. Initial imaging.
B. CT head without and with IV contrast

Variant 4:Child greater than 1 year of age. Suspected hydrocephalus. Signs or symptoms of elevated intracranial pressure. Initial imaging.
C. CT head without IV contrast

Variant 4:Child greater than 1 year of age. Suspected hydrocephalus. Signs or symptoms of elevated intracranial pressure. Initial imaging.
D. MRI head with IV contrast

Variant 4:Child greater than 1 year of age. Suspected hydrocephalus. Signs or symptoms of elevated intracranial pressure. Initial imaging.
E. MRI head without and with IV contrast

Variant 4:Child greater than 1 year of age. Suspected hydrocephalus. Signs or symptoms of elevated intracranial pressure. Initial imaging.
F. MRI head without IV contrast

Variant 4:Child greater than 1 year of age. Suspected hydrocephalus. Signs or symptoms of elevated intracranial pressure. Initial imaging.
G. MRI head without IV contrast abbreviated

Variant 4:Child greater than 1 year of age. Suspected hydrocephalus. Signs or symptoms of elevated intracranial pressure. Initial imaging.
H. MRV head with IV contrast

Variant 4:Child greater than 1 year of age. Suspected hydrocephalus. Signs or symptoms of elevated intracranial pressure. Initial imaging.
I. MRV head without IV contrast

Variant 4:Child greater than 1 year of age. Suspected hydrocephalus. Signs or symptoms of elevated intracranial pressure. Initial imaging.
J. US head

Variant 5:Child greater than 1 year of age. Known hydrocephalus. No signs or symptoms of shunt malfunction. Follow-up imaging.

Variant 5:Child greater than 1 year of age. Known hydrocephalus. No signs or symptoms of shunt malfunction. Follow-up imaging.
A. CT head with IV contrast

Variant 5:Child greater than 1 year of age. Known hydrocephalus. No signs or symptoms of shunt malfunction. Follow-up imaging.
B. CT head without and with IV contrast

Variant 5:Child greater than 1 year of age. Known hydrocephalus. No signs or symptoms of shunt malfunction. Follow-up imaging.
C. CT head without IV contrast

Variant 5:Child greater than 1 year of age. Known hydrocephalus. No signs or symptoms of shunt malfunction. Follow-up imaging.
D. MRI head with IV contrast

Variant 5:Child greater than 1 year of age. Known hydrocephalus. No signs or symptoms of shunt malfunction. Follow-up imaging.
E. MRI head without and with IV contrast

Variant 5:Child greater than 1 year of age. Known hydrocephalus. No signs or symptoms of shunt malfunction. Follow-up imaging.
F. MRI head without IV contrast

Variant 5:Child greater than 1 year of age. Known hydrocephalus. No signs or symptoms of shunt malfunction. Follow-up imaging.
G. MRI head without IV contrast abbreviated

Variant 5:Child greater than 1 year of age. Known hydrocephalus. No signs or symptoms of shunt malfunction. Follow-up imaging.
H. MRV head with IV contrast

Variant 5:Child greater than 1 year of age. Known hydrocephalus. No signs or symptoms of shunt malfunction. Follow-up imaging.
I. MRV head without IV contrast

Variant 5:Child greater than 1 year of age. Known hydrocephalus. No signs or symptoms of shunt malfunction. Follow-up imaging.
J. Radiography head neck chest abdomen

Variant 5:Child greater than 1 year of age. Known hydrocephalus. No signs or symptoms of shunt malfunction. Follow-up imaging.
K. US head

Variant 6:Child. Known hydrocephalus with cerebral spinal fluid diversion. Signs or symptoms of shunt malfunction. Follow-up imaging.

Variant 6:Child. Known hydrocephalus with cerebral spinal fluid diversion. Signs or symptoms of shunt malfunction. Follow-up imaging.
A. CT head with IV contrast

Variant 6:Child. Known hydrocephalus with cerebral spinal fluid diversion. Signs or symptoms of shunt malfunction. Follow-up imaging.
B. CT head without and with IV contrast

Variant 6:Child. Known hydrocephalus with cerebral spinal fluid diversion. Signs or symptoms of shunt malfunction. Follow-up imaging.
C. CT head without IV contrast

Variant 6:Child. Known hydrocephalus with cerebral spinal fluid diversion. Signs or symptoms of shunt malfunction. Follow-up imaging.
D. MRI head with IV contrast

Variant 6:Child. Known hydrocephalus with cerebral spinal fluid diversion. Signs or symptoms of shunt malfunction. Follow-up imaging.
E. MRI head without and with IV contrast

Variant 6:Child. Known hydrocephalus with cerebral spinal fluid diversion. Signs or symptoms of shunt malfunction. Follow-up imaging.
F. MRI head without IV contrast

Variant 6:Child. Known hydrocephalus with cerebral spinal fluid diversion. Signs or symptoms of shunt malfunction. Follow-up imaging.
G. MRI head without IV contrast abbreviated

Variant 6:Child. Known hydrocephalus with cerebral spinal fluid diversion. Signs or symptoms of shunt malfunction. Follow-up imaging.
H. MRV head with IV contrast

Variant 6:Child. Known hydrocephalus with cerebral spinal fluid diversion. Signs or symptoms of shunt malfunction. Follow-up imaging.
I. MRV head without IV contrast

Variant 6:Child. Known hydrocephalus with cerebral spinal fluid diversion. Signs or symptoms of shunt malfunction. Follow-up imaging.
J. Nuclear medicine ventriculography

Variant 6:Child. Known hydrocephalus with cerebral spinal fluid diversion. Signs or symptoms of shunt malfunction. Follow-up imaging.
K. Radiography head neck chest abdomen

Variant 6:Child. Known hydrocephalus with cerebral spinal fluid diversion. Signs or symptoms of shunt malfunction. Follow-up imaging.
L. US abdomen

Variant 6:Child. Known hydrocephalus with cerebral spinal fluid diversion. Signs or symptoms of shunt malfunction. Follow-up imaging.
M. US head

Summary of Highlights

Supporting Documents

The evidence table, literature search, and appendix for this topic are available at https://acsearch.acr.org/list. The appendix includes the strength of evidence assessment and the final rating round tabulations for each recommendation.

For additional information on the Appropriateness Criteria methodology and other supporting documents, please go to the ACR website at https://www.acr.org/Clinical-Resources/Clinical-Tools-and-Reference/Appropriateness-Criteria.

Gender Equality and Inclusivity Clause

The ACR acknowledges the limitations in applying inclusive language when citing research studies that predates the use of the current understanding of language inclusive of diversity in sex, intersex, gender, and gender-diverse people. The data variables regarding sex and gender used in the cited literature will not be changed. However, this guideline will use the terminology and definitions as proposed by the National Institutes of Health.

Appropriateness Category Names and Definitions

Appropriateness Category Name	Appropriateness Rating	Appropriateness Category Definition
Usually Appropriate	7, 8, or 9	The imaging procedure or treatment is indicated in the specified clinical scenarios at a favorable risk-benefit ratio for patients.
May Be Appropriate	4, 5, or 6	The imaging procedure or treatment may be indicated in the specified clinical scenarios as an alternative to imaging procedures or treatments with a more favorable risk-benefit ratio, or the risk-benefit ratio for patients is equivocal.
May Be Appropriate (Disagreement)	5	The individual ratings are too dispersed from the panel median. The different label provides transparency regarding the panel’s recommendation. “May be appropriate” is the rating category and a rating of 5 is assigned.
Usually Not Appropriate	1, 2, or 3	The imaging procedure or treatment is unlikely to be indicated in the specified clinical scenarios, or the risk-benefit ratio for patients is likely to be unfavorable.

Relative Radiation Level Information

Potential adverse health effects associated with radiation exposure are an important factor to consider when selecting the appropriate imaging procedure. Because there is a wide range of radiation exposures associated with different diagnostic procedures, a relative radiation level (RRL) indication has been included for each imaging examination. The RRLs are based on effective dose, which is a radiation dose quantity that is used to estimate population total radiation risk associated with an imaging procedure. Patients in the pediatric age group are at inherently higher risk from exposure, because of both organ sensitivity and longer life expectancy (relevant to the long latency that appears to accompany radiation exposure). For these reasons, the RRL dose estimate ranges for pediatric examinations are lower as compared with those specified for adults (see Table below). Additional information regarding radiation dose assessment for imaging examinations can be found in the ACR Appropriateness Criteria^® Radiation Dose Assessment Introduction document.

Relative Radiation Level Designations
Relative Radiation Level*	Adult Effective Dose Estimate Range	Pediatric Effective Dose Estimate Range
O	0 mSv	0 mSv
☢	<0.1 mSv	<0.03 mSv
☢☢	0.1-1 mSv	0.03-0.3 mSv
☢☢☢	1-10 mSv	0.3-3 mSv
☢☢☢☢	10-30 mSv	3-10 mSv
☢☢☢☢☢	30-100 mSv	10-30 mSv
*RRL assignments for some of the examinations cannot be made, because the actual patient doses in these procedures vary as a function of a number of factors (e.g., region of the body exposed to ionizing radiation, the imaging guidance that is used). The RRLs for these examinations are designated as “Varies.”

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The ACR Committee on Appropriateness Criteria and its expert panels have developed criteria for determining appropriate imaging examinations for diagnosis and treatment of specified medical condition(s). These criteria are intended to guide radiologists, radiation oncologists and referring physicians in making decisions regarding radiologic imaging and treatment. Generally, the complexity and severity of a patient’s clinical condition should dictate the selection of appropriate imaging procedures or treatments. Only those examinations generally used for evaluation of the patient’s condition are ranked. Other imaging studies necessary to evaluate other co-existent diseases or other medical consequences of this condition are not considered in this document. The availability of equipment or personnel may influence the selection of appropriate imaging procedures or treatments. Imaging techniques classified as investigational by the FDA have not been considered in developing these criteria; however, study of new equipment and applications should be encouraged. The ultimate decision regarding the appropriateness of any specific radiologic examination or treatment must be made by the referring physician and radiologist in light of all the circumstances presented in an individual examination.