title: Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technique for Visualization of Irregular Cerebrospinal Fluid Motion in the Ventricular System and Subarachnoid Space.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Many studies have shown that cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) behaves irregularly, rather than with laminar flow, in the various CSF spaces. We adapted a modified previously known magnetic resonance imaging technique to visualize irregular CSF motion. Subsequently, we assessed the usefulness and clinical significance of the present method.
  
  
  METHODS
  Normal CSF motion in 10 healthy volunteers was visualized with the dynamic improved, motion-sensitized, driven-equilibrium steady-state free precession technique. Subsequently, CSF motion visualization with a modified sequence was applied to 3 patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In healthy volunteers, we achieved visualization of the irregularity of CSF flow in the ventricles and spinal canal, whereas CSF motion was diminished in the peripheral part of the intracranial subarachnoid space. In one case, we confirmed the patency of the patient's third ventriculostomy fenestration site. In the other, we verified the usefulness of the proposed sequence for determining the communication between the ventricle or subarachnoid space and the cyst.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Using the present sequence, we obtained images that accentuated CSF motion, which is largely composed of irregular motion. This method does not require pulse triggering or complex post-processing of images and allows visualization of CSF motion in a short period of time in selected whole imaging planes. It can therefore be applied clinically to diagnose various diseases that cause abnormalities in the CSF space.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiological Technology, Tokai University Hospital, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomohiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Horie
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiological Technology, Tokai University Hospital, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Nao
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kajihara
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Tokai University School of Medicine, Kanagawa, Japan. Electronic address: mike@is.icc.u-tokai.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Mitsunori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matsumae
authors.affiliation: Philips Electronics Japan Ltd, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Obara
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Tokai University School of Medicine, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Naokazu
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Tokai University School of Medicine, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Akihiro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hirayama
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Tokai University School of Medicine, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takizawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Engineering, Tokai University, School of Biological Engineering, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Taro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takahara
authors.affiliation: Course of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Tokai University, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yatsushiro
authors.affiliation: Course of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Tokai University, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Kagayaki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kuroda
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002552:Cerebral Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D059906:Neuroimaging / Q000379:methods; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012212:Rheology / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013346:Subarachnoid Space / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Balanced steady-state free precession; Cerebrospinal fluid; Cerebrospinal fluid motion; Improved motion-sensitized driven-equilibrium; Magnetic resonance imaging