Longstanding overt ventriculomegaly in adults (LOVA) with patent aqueduct: surgical outcome and etiopathogenesis of a possibly distinct form of chronic hydrocephalus.

LOVA with patent aqueduct represents, in our opinion, a distinct clinical form of chronic hydrocephalus. For this subgroup, as well as for other forms of LOVA, ETV remains an acceptable first-line treatment option considering the good results, and the low complication rate, obtained in those patients and the hypothesis that hydrocephalus is due to an "intracisternal" obstruction.