[Selective ventriculography according to the Corrales technique. Its value in the diagnosis of tumors of the 3d ventricle and posterior fossa].

The authors relate their experience of selective ventriculography. The methode previously described by CORRALES needs a small gold chain with fine links which can reach by gravity the cavity of the fourth ventricle through the third ventricle and the aqueduct of Sylvius. This small chain is used as a leader for a flexible catheter which permits selective clouding of median ventricular cavities. This technique was used in 18 patients. In one case only, the small chain went down without any difficulty into the cisterna magna. The ventricular system was normal. In the 17 other cases, the progression of the small chain was stopped at some point of the ventricular cavities. In each of those cases, the stopping of the small chain appeared to be linked with the presence of a growth directly obstructing or compressing the ventricular cavities and gave a first clue as to its location. Introduction of the catheter into the aqueduct of Sylvius was the only true difficulty; in 3 cases, anatomical (large massa intermedia) or pathological obstacle (right angle bending of the aqueduct of Sylvius) made it impossible. In those 3 cases a satisfactory selective clouding of the fourth ventricle was nevertheless obtained by injecting the dimer either into the posterior part of the 3rd ventricle or into the upper part of the aqueduct of Sylvius. In all cases the trouble some superpositions due to clouding of lateral ventricles were thus avoided and a tomographic investigation, specially useful for the diagnosis of expanding lesions of the third ventricle and posterior fossa was allowed.