CSF-flow in the cerebral aqueduct: Factors of influence, normative values, CSF-flow disturbance

Using a retrospective cardial-gated 2D-phase-contrast MR-technique the pulsatile CSF-flow in the cerebral aqueduct can be measured as stroke volume per cardiac cycle (SVcc). To take clinical advantages of this non-invasive method to evaluate disturbed CSF-flow via aqueduct a definition of normative values of SVcc is needed. However, the high margins of interindividual fluctuation limits the evaluation of normative values and demands a referencing system. Measurements on subjects demonstrates the strong influence of the interthalamic width of the third ventricle (W) and heart rate (HR) to the SVcc. In subjects wi…