Cine-PC MRI In The Evaluation Of CSF Of The Cerebral Aqueduct

Objective:To analyze the rate, velocity and curve of flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the cerebral aqueduct of three groups of normal volunteers (control group), chronic tension headache patients (headache group) and obstructive hydrocephalus patients (hydrocephalus group) with cine phase contrast (cine-PC) magnetic resonance imaging.Materials and Methods:There were 26 of normal volunteers,17 of chronic tension headache and 10 of hydrocephalus who were scanned with CSF-QF CLEAR series of cine phase contrast on a Phillips Achieva 3.0T X-series MR unit. The data was transmitted to the computing workstation in order to analyze the rate, velocity and curve of flow of CSF in the cerebral aqueduct with software Extended MR Workspace R2.6.3. The groups were compared statistically.Results:The maps showed that the CSF in the cerebral aqueduct flowed bidirectionally in cardiac rhythm in control group. There were two types of the flow curves which like "U" or wave. The control group had 25 of U-curve and 1 of wave-curve, and the hydrocephalus group had 1 and 9, and the headache group had 11 and 6. In control, hydrocephalus and headache groups, the mean craniocaudal rate of flow of the CSF in the cerebral aqueduct was 0.235±0.157ml/s,0.068±0.099 ml/s and 0.133±0.106 ml/s respectively, and the mean caudocranial one was-0.358±0.201ml/s,-0.127±0.144ml/s and -0.190±0.141 ml/s respectively. The mean craniocaudal velocity of the CSF in the cerebral aqueduct was 6.023±2.654cm/s,1.590±1.652cm/s and 3.479±2.364cm/s respectively, and the caudocranial one was -8.263±3.020cm/s,-2.791±3.062cm/s and-4.788±2.862cm/s respectively. The difference of rate, velocity of flow of CSF in the cerebral aqueduct in three groups has statistical significance.Conclusion:Cine PC MRI is capable of demonstrating the rate, velocity and curve of flow of CSF in the cerebral aqueduct, which are different in control group, headache group and hydrocephalus group.