[Usefulness of MR CSF flow examination in children with hydrocephalus]

MR examination allows the determination of the absence or presence of CSF-flow as well as its direction and velocity.

is the presentation of the value of MR examination CSF-flow and its usefulness in diagnosis of hydrocephalus in children. MR CSF-flow examination may be performed in the cerebral aqueduct of Sylvius and in the drain of the ventriculo-peritoneal shunt.

The examination big in classical MR examination: axial and sagittal T1-weighted scans (TR 500, TE 12) and T2-weighted scans (TR 5000, TE 100). The CSF flow examination is performed in 2D CINE/GR/PC (TR 33, TE 9.1, FA 30 degrees, FOV 12 x 12 cm, slice thickness 5 mm, acquisition matrix 256 x 192) in the plane perpendicular to the examined structure. The gating sequence is compatible with the patient's heart rate. Two regions of interest is established: area of flow (ROI 1) and the area of background (ROI 2). CSF flow is calculated using Flow Analysis software. CSF-flow in CINE phase-contrast technique is used to qualitative assessment of flow.

MR examination allows the determination of the absence or presence of CSF-flow and its direction and velocity in the cerebral aqueduct of Sylvius and in the drain of the ventriculo-peritoneal shunt. This examination enables the differentiation between the shunt-dependent and shunt-independent type of hydrocephalus, which is of great significance in clinical management of patients after a shunt implantation.