Abdominal cerebrospinal fluid pseudocyst: a complication of ventriculoperitoneal shunt in a Brazilian Amazon woman. Case report.

Ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) is the most common treatment for hydrocephalus, however it is not free of complications. Abdominal cerebrospinal fluid pseudocyst (ACP) is an uncommon, but potentially life-threatening, complication of VPS. It is characterized by a fluid filled collection of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the peritoneal cavity containing the distal end of the VPS catheter and is surrounded by a wall composed of fibrous tissues without an epithelial lining. We report the case a Brazilian Amazon woman that presented ACP fifteen years after the placement of a VPS. Physicians should be aware of this possible complication once early diagnosis would improve outcome and reduce patient's suffering and distress.