Advanced

AJNR - American Journal of Neuroradiology

This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via CrossRef Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Haughton, V. M. Articles by Iskandar, B. J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Haughton, V. M. Articles by Iskandar, B. J.

American Journal of Neuroradiology 24:169-176, February 2003
© 2003 American Society of Neuroradiology

SPINE

Peak Systolic and Diastolic CSF Velocity in the Foramen Magnum in Adult Patients with Chiari I Malformations and in Normal Control Participants

Victor M. Haughton^a, Frank R. Korosec^a,b, Joshua E. Medow^c, Maria T. Dolar^a and Bermans J. Iskandar^c

^a Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI
^b Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI
^c Department of Neurosurgery, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI

Address reprint requests to Victor M. Haughton, MD, Department of Radiology, The University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics, 600 Highland Avenue, CSC E3/311, Madison, WI 53792

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Abnormal flow of CSF through the foramen magnum has been implicated in the pathogenesis of clinical deficits in association with Chiari I malformation. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that peak CSF velocities in the foramen magnum are increased in patients with Chiari I malformations.

METHODS: Eight adult patients with symptomatic Chiari I malformations and 10 adult volunteers were studied with cardiac gated, phase-contrast MR imaging in the axial plane at the foramen magnum. The spatial uniformity of flow velocity in the foramen magnum was assessed at 14 time frames within the R–R interval. The velocity in each of the voxels at each of the time frames was calculated, and the peak systolic and diastolic velocities were tabulated for the patients and controls.

RESULTS: For the normal volunteers, the CSF velocities in the subarachnoid space were relatively uniform throughout the subarachnoid space at each of the time frames. Peak systolic velocity ranged from 1.2 to 3.3 cm/s, and peak diastolic velocity ranged from 1.6 to 4.5 cm/s. In symptomatic patients with Chiari I, velocities in the foramen magnum did not appear as uniform throughout the subarachnoid space in the phase-contrast images. Peak systolic velocities ranged from 1.8 to 4.8 cm/s, and peak diastolic velocities ranged from 2.5 to 5.3 cm/s. Peak systolic velocity was significantly higher (P = .01) in the patients than in the control volunteers.

CONCLUSION: Patients with Chiari I malformations have significant elevations of peak systolic velocity in the CSF in the foramen magnum.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				K L Brickell, N E Anderson, A J Charleston, J K A Hope, A P L Bok, and P A Barber Ethnic differences in syringomyelia in New Zealand J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry, August 1, 2006; 77(8): 989 - 991. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. F. Quigley, B. Iskandar, M. A. Quigley, M. Nicosia, and V. Haughton Cerebrospinal Fluid Flow in Foramen Magnum: Temporal and Spatial Patterns at MR Imaging in Volunteers and in Patients with Chiari I Malformation Radiology, July 1, 2004; 232(1): 229 - 236. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. T. Dolar, V. M. Haughton, B. J. Iskandar, and M. Quigley Effect of Craniocervical Decompression on Peak CSF Velocities in Symptomatic Patients with Chiari I Malformation AJNR Am. J. Neuroradiol., January 1, 2004; 25(1): 142 - 145. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]