Endoscopic third ventriculocisternostomy: MR assessment of patency with 2-D cine phase-contrast versus T2-weighted fast spin echo technique.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if fast spin-echo T2 (FSE) is of equal value to flow-sensitive 2D cine phase-contrast (CPC) to assess patency of endoscopic third ventriculocisternostomies (VC).


METHODS
We reviewed clinical charts and MR scans of 27 patients who underwent third VC for treatment of obstructive hydrocephalus. Thirty-nine postoperative scans included both sequences and were assessed for the presence or absence of flow-related signal changes.


RESULTS
In 28 cases, FSE, CPC, and clinical findings suggested patency. In 1 case, CPC and FSE suggested occlusion, which was confirmed clinically and operatively. In the remaining cases, FSE showed better clinical correlation than did CPC.


CONCLUSIONS
The assessment of third VC patency with FSE, a sequence available on most clinical scanners without a requirement for special hardware and software, is at least as sensitive in the qualitative assessment of VC function as CPC.
Department of Radiology, University of California at San Francisco, USA. Nancy.Fischbein@radiology.ucsf.edu
N J
NJ
Fischbein
S F
SF
Ciricillo
R M
RM
Barr
M
M
McDermott
M S
MS
Edwards
S
S
Geary
A J
AJ
Barkovich
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002552:Cerebral Ventricles / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003287:Contrast Media; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D007223:Infant; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D019028:Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D003287:Contrast Media