[Congenital hydrocephalus: clinico-pathological picture].

The authors review the main pathologic causes of congenital hydrocephalus from ischemic-vascular injuries, embryofoetal infections and dysraphisms to genetic ones. Abundant illustrations of each condition are furnished and particular attention is paid to each situation, discussing the available pathogenetic mechanisms and hypothesis. Genetic "sine causa" hydrocephalus and X-linked hydrocephalus are mainly stressed, presenting some personal data. The clinic aspects of the varying forms of hydrocephalus are continuously kept in mind and a terminal paragraph details the clinical and neuroradiological means determinant in differential diagnosis versus similar conditions such as hydranencephaly, porencephaly, aracnoid cysts, holoprosencephaly and agenesis of corpus callosum.