Intracranial cerebrospinal fluid spaces imaging using a pulse-triggered three-dimensional turbo spin echo MR sequence with variable flip-angle distribution.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the three-dimensional turbo spin echo with variable flip-angle distribution magnetic resonance sequence (SPACE: Sampling Perfection with Application optimised Contrast using different flip-angle Evolution) for the imaging of intracranial cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) spaces.


METHODS
We prospectively investigated 18 healthy volunteers and 25 patients, 20 with communicating hydrocephalus (CH), five with non-communicating hydrocephalus (NCH), using the SPACE sequence at 1.5T. Volume rendering views of both intracranial and ventricular CSF were obtained for all patients and volunteers. The subarachnoid CSF distribution was qualitatively evaluated on volume rendering views using a four-point scale. The CSF volumes within total, ventricular and subarachnoid spaces were calculated as well as the ratio between ventricular and subarachnoid CSF volumes.


RESULTS
Three different patterns of subarachnoid CSF distribution were observed. In healthy volunteers we found narrowed CSF spaces within the occipital aera. A diffuse narrowing of the subarachnoid CSF spaces was observed in patients with NCH whereas patients with CH exhibited narrowed CSF spaces within the high midline convexity. The ratios between ventricular and subarachnoid CSF volumes were significantly different among the volunteers, patients with CH and patients with NCH.


CONCLUSIONS
The assessment of CSF spaces volume and distribution may help to characterise hydrocephalus.
Hodel
Jérôme
J
Unité Analyse et Restauration du mouvement, UMR-CNRS, 8005 LBM ParisTech Ensam, Paris, France. jerome.hodel@hmn.aphp.fr
Silvera
Jonathan
J
Bekaert
Olivier
O
Rahmouni
Alain
A
Bastuji-Garin
Sylvie
S
Vignaud
Alexandre
A
Petit
Eric
E
Durning
Bruno
B
Decq
Philippe
P
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000465:Algorithms; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid / Q000166:cytology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000473:pathology*; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D013113:Spin Labels
D013113:Spin Labels