Fourier analysis of cerebrospinal fluid flow velocities: MR imaging study. The Scandinavian Flow Group

Radiology. 1990 Dec;177(3):659-65. doi: 10.1148/radiology.177.3.2243965.

Abstract

An interleaved pseudocinematographic FLASH (fast low-angle shot) sequence with additional pulsed gradients for flow encoding was used to quantify cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow velocities and CSF production. Flow-dependent phase information was obtained by subtracting two differently encoded phase images. The phase information in the resultant image was converted to flow velocity with a calibration curve with the slope 26.5 radian.m-1.sec. The velocity versus time function was Fourier transformed and a continuous curve was fitted to the measured data with use of the first three harmonics. The in vivo measurements showed a significant variation in flow velocities in the cerebral aqueduct (range, 6-51 mm/sec). Calculated CSF production was in the range of 0.6-1.2 L/24 h. The present method gives valuable information about CSF hydrodynamics in an imaging time of less than 8 minutes.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cerebral Aqueduct / anatomy & histology
  • Cerebrospinal Fluid / physiology*
  • Female
  • Fourier Analysis
  • Humans
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods*
  • Male
  • Models, Structural
  • Rheology