[Dynamic magnetic resonance imaging of the cerebrospinal fluid flow within the cerebral aqueduct by different FISP 2D...

A vast majority of current radiogical techniques, such as computerized tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have great potencial of vizualization and delineation of cerebrospinal fuid spaces morphology within cerebral aqueduct. The aim of this study was to determine the possibilities of two differently acquired FISP (Fast Imaging with Steady State Precession) 2D MR sequences in the estimation of the pulsatile cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow intensity through the normal cerebral aqueduct.

Sixty eight volunteers underwent brain MRI on 1.5T MR imager with additionally performed ECG retrospectively gated FISP 2D sequences (first one, as the part of the standard software package, with following technical parameters: TR 40, TE 12, FA 17, Matrix: 192 x 256, Acq 1, and the second one, experimentally developed by our investigation team: TR 30, TE 12, FA 70, Matrix: 192 x 256, Acq 1) respectively at two fixed slice positions--midsagittal and perpendicular to cerebral aqueduct, displayed and evaluated by multiplegated images in a closed-loop cinematographic (CINE) format.

Normal brain morphology with preserved patency of the cerebral aqueduct in all of 68 healthy volunteers was demonstrated on MRI examination. Cerebrospinal fluid flow within the cerebral aqueduct was distinguishable on both CINE MRI studies in midsagittal plane, but the estimation of intraaqueductal CSF flow in perpendicular plane was possible on CINE MRI studies acquired with experimentally improved FISP 2D (TR 30, FA 70) sequence only.

Due to the changes of technical parameters CINE MRI study acquired with FISP 2D (TR 30, FA 70) in perpendicular plane demonstrated significantly higher capability in the estimation of the CSF pulsation intensity within the cerebral aqueduct.