Background and Aims Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is known mainly involved in the intracranial homeostatic balance. Disruption of CSF flow may cause distinctive diseases. Therefore, the characterization of normal CSF flow dynamics in children and adults can provide pathophysiological information on diseases affecting CSF circulation. However, available measurements of CSF dynamics are too invasive and the data of children are limited. To quantify differences of CSF dynamics between children and adults, a non-invasive and powerful technique, cine phase-contrast MRI with high temporal and spatial resolution, is used for the quantification of the CSF flow.

Methods Aqueductal area was selected for the quantification of CSF flow using cine-phase contrast MRI. CSF flow parameters, including peak velocity and net stroke volume, were analyzed between child-age group and adult-age group.

Results 20 children (16 male, 4 female; 7 months to 6 years) with initially under clinical suspicion of atypical febrile seizure and finally proved normal by CNS imaging and clinical investigations were enrolled. The peak CSF flow velocity in the cerebral aqueduct of children were 200.02±66.64 ul/s, and the mean net stroke volume is 15.07±17.42 ul/heart beat. Comparing the results in 10 normal adults (5 male, 5 female; 23 to 56 years) with the mean peak velocity of 100.86±18.13ul/s and the net stroke volume of 5.09±0.56, data in children are significantly higher than that in adults.

Discussion The value of these flow parameters in children is significantly different from that in adults. Therefore, the age of a patient should be taken into consideration while interpreting these parameters.