title: Magnetic resonance velocity mapping of 3D cerebrospinal fluid flow dynamics in hydrocephalus: preliminary results.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the detectability of CSF flow alterations in the ventricular system of patients with hydrocephalus using time-resolved 3D MR velocity mapping.
  
  
  METHODS
  MR velocity mapping was performed in 21 consecutive hydrocephalus patients and 21 age-matched volunteers using a 3D phase-contrast (PC) sequence. Velocity vectors and particle path lines were calculated for visualisation of flow dynamics. CSF flow was classified as "hypomotile flow" if it showed attenuated dynamics and as "hypermotile flow" if it showed increased dynamics compared with volunteers. Diagnostic efficacy was compared with routine 2D cine PC-MRI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven patients showed hypomotile CSF flow: six had non-communicating hydrocephalus due to aqueductal stenosis. One showed oscillating flow between the lateral ventricles after craniotomy for intracranial haemorrhage. Seven patients showed normal flow: six had hydrocephalus ex vacuo due to brain atrophy. One patient who underwent ventriculostomy 10 years ago showed a flow path through the opening. Seven patients showed hypermotile flow: three had normal pressure hydrocephalus, three had dementia, and in one the diagnosis remained unclear. The diagnostic efficacy of velocity mapping was significantly higher except for that of aqueductal stenosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our approach may be useful for diagnosis, therapy planning, and follow-up of different kinds of hydrocephalus.
authors.affiliation: MR Physics Group, Department of Radiology, Landesklinikum St. Poelten, Propst Fuehrer Strasse 4, 3100, St. Poelten, Austria. andi@nmr.at
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stadlbauer
authors.forename: Erich
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Salomonowitz
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brenneis
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ungersböck
authors.forename: Wilma
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: van der Riet
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Buchfelder
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ganslandt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002535:Cerebral Aqueduct / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015170:Cerebrospinal Fluid Pressure; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D007427:Intracranial Pressure; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies