Table 2 Role of MR imaging sequences in the evaluation of the CSF flow abnormalities in children
From: The value of CSF flow studies in the management of CSF disorders in children: a pictorial review
Sequence | Plane | Key application |
|---|---|---|
T2-WI | Axial | Determination of ventriculomegaly and any other structural abnormalities |
FLAIR | Axial | Determination of periventricular abnormal signal which may represent interstitial edema in cases of acute hydrocephalus or secondary to defective myelination in chronic hydrocephalus (Fig. 2) |
T2-WI | Coronal | Determination of the size of the temporal horns of both lateral ventricles in relation to the body (Fig. 7) |
T2*-WI | Axial | Better detection of intracranial hemorrhage as a cause of hydrocephalus |
3D-DRIVE | Sagittal with MPR | Demonstration of the anatomical details of the ventricular system, third ventricular recesses, aqueduct of Sylvius, subarachnoid space, and basal cisterns and to search for adhesions especially in the aqueduct of Sylvius, fourth ventricular exit, and basal subarachnoid space (Figs. 3, 8 and 12) |
T1-WI | Sagittal | Determination of anatomy and any structural abnormality |
Phase contrast | Sagittal | Qualitative assessment of CSF flow through the aqueduct of Sylvius and basal cisterns (Fig. 4) |
Phase contrast | Axial | Quantification of CSF flow and velocity (Fig. 5) |
Post-contrast T1-WI# | Axial, coronal, sagittal | Detection of abnormal enhancement in cases of suspected inflammatory or neoplastic pathologies (Fig. 9) |