Automatic volumetry of the cerebrospinal fluid space in idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus

Objectives: To measure the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) space volume in idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (INPH), we developed a software that allows us to automatically measure the regional CSF space and compared the volumes of the ventricle systems (VS), Sylvian fissures (SF) and sulci at high convexity and midline (SHM) among INPH patients, Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients and healthy volunteers (HVs).

Methods: Fifteen INPH patients, 15 AD patients and 15 HVs were retrospectively selected for this study. 3D-T1 MR images were obtained. We improved upon an automatic gray matter volume system to measure CSF spaces, adopting new regions for the template of INPH-characteristic CSF spaces and measured them. The VS, SF and SHM volumes were calculated relative to the intracranial volume.

Results: The relative SHM volume of the INPH group (0.0237 ± 0.0064) was the smallest among the 3 groups (AD: 0.0477 ± 0.0109, HV: 0.0542 ± 0.0045). The VS (0.0499 ± 0.0135) and SF (0.0187 ± 0.0037) volumes of the INPH group were significantly larger than those of the AD (VS: 0.0311 ± 0.0075, SF: 0.0146 ± 0.0026) and HV groups (VS: 0.0167 ± 0.0065, SF: 0.0111 ± 0.017).

Conclusion: Automatic volume measurement can be used to delineate the characteristic changes in CSF space in patients with INPH and is useful in the diagnosis of INPH.