Differential diagnosis of arachnoid cyst from subarachnoid space enlargement by phase-contrast cine MRI.
- Author:
Qun YU
1
;
Xiangquan KONG
;
Dingxi LIU
Author Information
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- MeSH: Adult; Arachnoid Cysts; diagnosis; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine; Male; Subarachnoid Space; pathology
- From: Chinese Medical Journal 2003;116(1):116-120
- CountryChina
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVESTo reveal the relationship of brain motion and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow by phase-contrast cine MRI, and to evaluate this technique in differentiating between arachnoid cysts and subarachnoid space enlargement.
METHODSUsing a phase-contrast cine MRI pulse sequence, we measured brain motion and CSF flow during the cardiac cycle in 10 healthy volunteers and 10 patients with MRI-suspected arachnoid cyst or subarachnoid space enlargement. CSF stroke volume curve was illustrated according to flow quantification, and time-signal intensity curve was traced. The two curves were compared.
RESULTSThis study showed that brain motion was due to the volume difference between arterial and venous blood flow during a cardiac cycle, and thus drives CSF pulsation. Arachnoid cysts and subarachnoid space enlargement carried different curve patterns, demonstrating that phase-contrast MRI and flow quantification can be a useful and reliable technique for non-invasive evaluation of brain motion and CSF flow.
CONCLUSIONArachnoid cysts can be successfully differentiated using phase-contrast cine MRI from subarachnoid space enlargement.