Dynamics of lateral ventricle and cerebrospinal fluid in normal and hydrocephalic brains.
OBJECTIVE
To develop quantitative MRI techniques to measure, model, and visualize cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) hydrodynamics in normal subjects and hydrocephalic patients.


METHODS
Velocity information was obtained using time-resolved (CINE) phase-contrast imaging of different brain regions. A technique was developed to measure the change of lateral ventricle (LV) size. The temporal relationships between the LV size change, CSF movement, and blood flow could then be established. The data were incorporated into a first-principle CSF hydrodynamic model. The model was then used to generate specific predictions about CSF pressure relationships. To better-visualize the CSF flow, a color-coding technique based on linear transformations was developed that represents the magnitude and direction of the velocity in a single cinematic view.


RESULTS
The LV volume change of the eight normal subjects was 0.901+/-0.406%. Counterintuitively, the LV decreases as the choroid plexus expands, so that they act together to produce the CSF oscillatory flow. The amount of oscillatory flow volume is 21.7+/-10.6% of the volume change of the LV from its maximum to its minimum.


CONCLUSIONS
The quantification and visualization techniques, together with the mathematical model, provide a unique approach to understanding CSF flow dynamics.
Zhu
David C
DC
Cognitive Imaging Research Center, Department of Psychology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA. zhuda@msu.edu
Xenos
Michalis
M
Linninger
Andreas A
AA
Penn
Richard D
RD
D000328:Adult; D016477:Artifacts; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods*; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid / Q000502:physiology*; D015170:Cerebrospinal Fluid Pressure; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D020547:Lateral Ventricles / Q000503:physiopathology*; D019028:Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging