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Updated: Jul 5, 2025
Functional Transcranial Doppler Ultrasound for Monitoring Cerebral Blood Flow
Published on: March 15, 2021
Cerebral Sinus Hemodynamics in Adults Revealed by 4D Flow MRI
Chihang Dai1, Pengfei Zhao1, Heyu Ding1
1Department of Radiology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Insights
Four-dimensional flow MRI (4D Flow MRI) quantitatively assessed cerebral sinus hemodynamics in 99 adults. Total cerebral blood flow decreases with age, providing a baseline for disease research.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Medical Physics
- Cardiovascular Science
Background:
- Cerebral sinus hemodynamics are crucial for understanding blood flow disorders.
- Hemodynamics in healthy adults remain incompletely understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate adult cerebral sinus hemodynamics using 4D Flow MRI.
- Establish normative hemodynamic data for cerebral sinuses.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of 99 healthy volunteers (mean age 42.88 years).
- Utilized 3 Tesla 4D Flow MRI to assess blood flow velocity, flow rate (Q), and vortexes.
- Inter-observer agreement and test-retest reliability were evaluated.
Main Results:
- 4D Flow MRI demonstrated moderate to high reliability for velocity and flow measurements.
- Cerebral sinus velocity and flow varied by segment and cardiac cycle.
- Total cerebral flow decreased with age (0.06 mL/s per year) and was sex-independent.
- Vortexes were observed in specific sinus segments, correlating with higher upstream flow.
Conclusions:
- 4D Flow MRI enables in vivo quantitative and visual assessment of cerebral sinuses.
- Provides a foundational dataset for future research into conditions like pulsating tinnitus and multiple sclerosis.
Background:
The hemodynamics of the cerebral sinuses play a vital role in understanding blood flow-related diseases, yet the hemodynamics of the cerebral sinuses in normal adults remains an unresolved issue.
Purpose:
To evaluate hemodynamics in the cerebral sinus of adults using 4-dimensional flow MRI (4D Flow MRI).
Study Type:
Cross-sectional.
Population:
Ninety-nine healthy volunteers (mean age, 42.88 ± 13.16 years old; females/males, 55/44).
Field Strength/Sequence:
3 T/4D Flow MRI.
Assessment:
The blood flow velocity, average blood flow rate (Q), and vortexes at the superior sagittal sinus (SSS), straight sinus (STS), transverse sinus, sigmoid sinus, and jugular bulb of each volunteer were evaluated by two independent neuroradiologists. The relationship between the total cerebral Q and sex and age was also assessed. Twelve volunteers underwent two scans within a month.
Statistical Tests:
The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) evaluated the inter-observer agreement. Blood flow parameters among volunteers were compared by the independent-sample t-test or Mann-Whitney U test. The multiple linear regression equation was used to evaluate the relationship between total cerebral Q and age and sex. P < 0.05 indicated statistical significance.
Results:
The test-retest and interobserver reliability of average velocity and Q were moderate to high (ICC: 0.54-0.99). Cerebral sinus velocity varied by segment and cardiac cycle. The SSS's velocity and Q increased downstream and Q near torcular herophili was 3.5 times that through the STS. The total cerebral Q decreased by 0.06 mL/s per year (β = -0.06 ± 0.013) and was sex-independent within the group. Vortexes were found in 12.12%, 8.9%, and 59.8% of torcular herophili, transverse-sigmoid junction, and jugular bulb, respectively, and were related to higher upstream flow.
Data Conclusion:
Cerebral sinuses could be measured visually and quantitatively in vivo by 4D Flow MRI, providing a basis for future research on pulsating tinnitus, multiple sclerosis, and other related diseases.
Evidence Level:
2 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 1.
