Phase Contrast Cine Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Evaluating the Effect of Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy for the Treatment of Children with Hydrocephalus

Objective To evaluate the effect of endoscopic third ventriculostomy in the treatment of hydrocephalus with phase contrast cine MR imaging.Methods 12 patients with hydrocephalus underwent brain routine MR and phase contrast cine MR imaging pre and postoperation.Qualitative evaluation and quantitative measurement of cerebrospinal fluid(csf) flow through the aqueduct and the fistula of the third ventriculostomy was performed with analytic software.The waveforms were analyzed with the maximum flow velocity,flow volume and the change of the figures pre-and postoperation.Results In 12 patients,the csf of the fistula of the third ventriculostomy had two directions which was downward flow during the systolic period and upward flow during the diastolic period of the cardiac cycle.In 7 patients with obstructive hydrocephalus preoperation,the csf flow tended to hypodynamics in the aqueduct.Hyperdynamics csf flow of the aqueduct was revealed in 5 patients with communicating hydrocephalus.The csf flow of aqueduct tended to irregular,and the cycle slow dow after third ventriculostomy.After operation,12 patients were seen supratentorial ventricles reduced compared with preoperation,in which 8 patients were seen further narrow ventricles respectively after six months and 1 year.Conclusion Phase contrast cine MR imaging of hydrocephalus provide a reliable and effective means for the evaluation of endoscopic third ventriculostomy in children with hydrocephalus.