PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - V. Haughton
AU  - K.-A. Mardal
TI  - Spinal Fluid Biomechanics and Imaging: An Update for Neuroradiologists
AID  - 10.3174/ajnr.A4023
DP  - 2014 Jul 10
TA  - American Journal of Neuroradiology
4099  - http://www.ajnr.org/content/early/2014/07/10/ajnr.A4023.short
4100  - http://www.ajnr.org/content/early/2014/07/10/ajnr.A4023.full
AB  - SUMMARY: Flow imaging with cardiac-gated phase-contrast MR has applications in the management of neurologic disorders. Together with computational fluid dynamics, phase-contrast MR has advanced our understanding of spinal CSF flow. Phase-contrast MR is used to evaluate patients with Chiari I malformation who are candidates for surgical treatment. In theory, abnormal CSF flow resulting from the abnormal tonsil position causes syringomyelia and other neurologic signs and symptoms in patients with Chiari I. CSF flow imaging also has research applications in syringomyelia and spinal stenosis. To optimize MR acquisition and interpretation, neuroradiologists must have familiarity with healthy and pathologic patterns of CSF flow. The purpose of this review is to update concepts of CSF flow that are important for the practice of flow imaging in the spine. Abbreviation PCMRphase-contrast MR