Multiphasic MR imaging: a new method for direct imaging of pulsatile CSF flow.

Abstract

A new technique is described that allows for the creation of pure pulsatile flow magnetic resonance (MR) images in a single acquisition. Five to 16 electrocardiographically gated images spanning the entire cardiac cycle are obtained with use of a gradient-echo pulse sequence. The section can be varied from 4 mm thick to full thickness projection. Taken singly, each image provides direct assessment of flow direction and velocity. Subtraction of image pairs eliminates signal detected from stationary protons, producing images of pulsatile flow. In this study the technique was used to image the flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in healthy subjects and in one patient with syringohydromyelia. The data suggest that multiphasic MR imaging provides a powerful means for the noninvasive assessment of CSF pulsatile flow dynamics and may have potential clinical application for the investigation of a variety of abnormalities such as normal pressure hydrocephalus, syrinx, and spinal block.

Cerebrospinal fluid flow dynamics study in Chiari I malformation: implications for syrinx formation

“…7,11,12,15,24,25,28,31,32 In a noninvasive manner, these techniques have provided us with invaluable information on a closed system such as the CSF circulation. Chiari I malformation, a condition known to be associated with CSF flow abnormalities, has been the subject of a number of these studies, both before and after decompressive surgery.…”

Magnetic resonance velocity mapping of 3D cerebrospinal fluid flow dynamics in hydrocephalus: preliminary results

“…Phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (PC-MRI) [3,4] is a non-invasive imaging technique that is useful for the evaluation of the physiology of body fluid circulation. Phase-sensitive MR techniques for flow measurements were initially applied for investigation of blood flow [3] and subsequently used to study CSF flow in healthy volunteers [5][6][7][8] and patients with hydrocephalus [9][10][11][12]. Time-resolved two-dimensional (2D) PC-MRI with velocity encoding in one spatial direction is the method of choice for investigation of CSF flow [13][14][15][16][17].…”

Insight into the patterns of cerebrospinal fluid flow in the human ventricular system using MR velocity mapping

“…Phase-sensitive MR techniques for flow measurements were initially applied for investigation of blood flow (Moran, 1982) and subsequently used to study CSF flow in healthy volunteers (Edelman et al, 1986;Enzmann and Pelc, 1991;Ridgway et al, 1987;Thomsen et al, 1990) and patients with hydrocephalus (Bradley, 1992;Bradley et al, 1996;Kim et al, 1999;Mase et al, 1998). Several authors have used time-resolved two-dimensional (2D) PC-MRI experiments with velocity encoding in one spatial direction in both research and clinical routine for determination of CSF flow curves and parameters like peak velocity, flow, and stroke volume (Abbey et al, 2009;Baledent et al, 2006;Bargallo et al, 2005;de Marco et al, 2004;Zhu et al, 2006).…”