The quantitative evaluation of cerebral spinal fluid flow

Over the past decade, MR CSF evaluation has evolved from a visual qualitative technique into an indispensable quantitative technique, offering the clinician diagnostic and prognostic information for a variety of conditions in which diagnostic imaging can be of little help. With careful consideration and evaluation of the subarachnoid space with cine phase-contrast techniques, flow abnormalities can be detected. These alterations in CSF flow appear to play a significant role in development of normal pressure hydrocephalus, syringomyelia, and other forms of myelopathy. They may also be helpful in determining the clinical significance of such findings as arachnoid cysts and Chiari I malformation, and are helpful in evaluating and determining the patency of third ventriculostomies. Although further study is needed to determine the use and significance of this technique, it has already played a major role in the noninvasive study of CSF flow dynamics.