Cerebrospinal fluid flow in children with normal and dilated ventricles studied by MR imaging

Purpose: To quantify the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) dynamics in the aqueduct of children with normal and dilated ventricles using MR phase-contrast technique.Material and Methods: Eighteen patients (6 months to 17 years of age) with various neurological symptoms underwent routine brain MR imaging and CSF flow measurement in the aqueduct. Nine patients had normal ventricles, 5 had dilated ventricles and 4 had a ventriculoperitoneal shunt.Results: The CSF velocity and flow rates in the aqueduct in patients with normal and dilated ventricles showed marked inter-individual variation and clear overlap. In a patient with tight aqueductal stenosis and increased ventricular pressure, pronounced CSF flow in the aqueduct was measured. Absence of flow in another patient with aqueductal stenosis was detected. Measurable although low flow in the aqueduct in 4 patients with a ventriculoperitoneal shunt was found.Conclusion: Quantitative phase MR flow measurement in the aqueduct demonstrated aqueductal stenosis; these patients had either pronounced flow or no flow in the aqueduct.