Cerebrospinal fluid flow waveforms: MR analysis in chronic adult hydrocephalus.
Henry-Feugeas MC, Idy-Peretti I, Baledent O, et al. Cerebrospinal fluid flow waveforms: MR analysis in chronic adult hydrocephalus. Invest Radiol 2001;36:146-154.


OBJECTIVE
To analyze changes in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) hydrodynamics in chronic adult hydrocephalus.


METHODS
Phase-contrast cine-MR acquisitions were used to explore the ventricular system and the upper ventral cervical spaces of 16 patients. The aqueductal jet was explored in 32 control subjects.


RESULTS
The duration of pulsatile caudal CSF flow (ie, CSF systole) was abnormally short in patients with active idiopathic and obstructive hydrocephalus. The duration of CSF cervical systole was normal in patients with stable hydrocephalus. The aqueductal stroke volume could be increased in stable communicating hydrocephalus. Patients who responded to shunting had shortened CSF systoles and hyperpulsatile ventricular patterns. Successful CSF diversion resulted in longer CSF systoles and CSF ventricular patterns that were no longer hyperpulsatile.


CONCLUSIONS
Magnetic resonance analysis of CSF flow can show craniospinal dissociation and limitation of CSF outflow from the ventricles in both obstructive and communicating hydrocephalus; it should help determine the response to shunting in communicating hydrocephalus.
Laboratoire d'Imagerie Médicale Paris Nord Jeune Equipe 2156, Université Paris VII-Denis Diderot-Faculté de Médecine Xavier Bichat, and Service de Radiologie, Groupe Hospitalier Bichat Claude Bernard, Paris, France.
M C
MC
Henry-Feugeas
I
I
Idy-Peretti
O
O
Baledent
P
P
Cornu
H
H
Lejay
J
J
Bittoun
A E
AE
Schouman-Claeys
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged