Cine phase-contrast MRI evaluation of normal aqueductal cerebrospinal fluid flow according to sex and age.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was cerebrospinal flow quantification in the cerebral aqueduct using cine phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique in both sexes and five different age groups to provide normative data.


METHODS
Sixty subjects with no cerebral pathology were included in this study. Subjects were divided into five age groups: < or =14 years, 15-24 years, 25-34 years, 35-44 years, and > or =45 years. Phase, rephase, and magnitude images were acquired by 1.5 T MR unit at the level of cerebral aqueduct with spoiled gradient echo through-plane, which is a cine phase-contrast sequence. At this level, peak flow velocity (cm/s), average flow rate (cm/ s), average flow (L/min), volumes in cranial and caudal directions (mL), and net volumes (mL) were studied.


RESULTS
There was a statistically significant difference in peak flow between the age group of < or =14 years and the older age groups. There were no statistically significant differences in average velocity, cranial and caudal volume, net volume, and average flow parameters among different age groups. Statistically significant differences were not detected in flow parameters between sexes.


CONCLUSIONS
When using cine-phase contrast MRI in the cerebral aqueduct, only the peak velocity showed a statistically significant difference between age groups; it was higher in subjects aged < or =14 years than those in older age groups. When performing age-dependent clinical studies including adolescents, this should be taken into consideration.
Department of Radiology, Yüzüncü Yil University School of Medicine, Van, Turkey.
Ozkan
O
Unal
Alp
A
Kartum
Serhat
S
Avcu
Omer
O
Etlik
Halil
H
Arslan
Aydin
A
Bora
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D002535:Cerebral Aqueduct / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012727:Sex Characteristics