title: Normal pressure hydrocephalus versus atrophic dilatation to distinguish and predict the benefits of surgical intervention with a phase-contrast MRI technique.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare mean cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) volume in the aqueduct by using phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging for the patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (INPH) and atrophic dilation (AD) to investigate the efficacy of this technique in predicting surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  The MR images of a total of 80 individuals, consisting of 30 patients considered to have INPH, 20 patients with AD not proportional with cerebral sulci, and 30 control cases without a hydrocephalus clinical picture, were evaluated retrospectively. The minute mean aqueductal CSF flow rates of the three groups were compared using the Kruskall-Wallis analysis of variance, and the inter-group statistical comparisons were made using the Mann-Whitney U test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean aqueductal flow rates were 46.56 ± 25.06 ml/min for the INPH group, 9.28 ± 4.68 ml/min for the AD group, and 8.68 ± 3.40 ml/min for the control group. The mean flow rate of the INPH group was significantly higher than those of the control and ADH groups (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The mean CSF flow rate may be useful in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis, and the prediction of the potential benefits of surgical intervention for patients considered to have INPH.
authors: Ondokuz Mayis University, School of Medicine, Department of Radiology, Samsun, Turkey.
authors: Kerim
authors: K
authors: Aslan
authors: Onur
authors: O
authors: Tokatlioglu
authors: Ramazan
authors: R
authors: Aydin
authors: Ahmet Veysel
authors: AV
authors: Polat
authors: Lutfi
authors: L
authors: Incesu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004106:Dilatation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006850:Hydrocephalus, Normal Pressure / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D017287:Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt; D055815:Young Adult