Neurosarcoid infiltration of the ventricular catheter causing shunt failure: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Neurosarcoid is known to develop in 5% of patients with sarcoidosis. A frequent manifestation of this condition is hydrocephalus, which will often require treatment with a ventricular shunt.

METHODS: Presented here is the case of a patient whose initial manifestation of neurosarcoidosis was hydrocephalus, and who then represented with multiple shunt failures.

RESULTS: On two revisions, the proximal catheter, after removal, was found to be occluded with noncaseating granulomatous material that had infiltrated the shunt lumen.

CONCLUSIONS: Although shunts may become occluded by inspissated proteinaceous or cellular debris, the occlusion of a shunt catheter by the ingrowth of the noncaseating granulomatous material of neurosarcoid has not been described before. This patient's course, the histopathologic findings, and neurosarcoidosis in general are discussed here.