Summary
A retrospective review of twenty-five normal MRI brain studies performed with the spin-echo technique focused special attention on the ventricular and extraventricular cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and revealed unique signal intensity characteristics in the two locations. In addition, MRI studies of ten patients with abnormal extraaxial fluid collections either missed with CT or indistinguishable from CSF on CT images were also analyzed. MRI is more sensitive when compared to CT in evaluating the composition of CSF. Unique signal intensity characterizes the two major CSF compartments and presumably reflects their known but subtle difference in protein concentration (10–15 mg%). Normal variant or abnormal developmental fluid collections can be better characterized with MRI than with CT. These preliminary observations are offered in view of their implications for patient management and suggest further investigation.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Amendola MA, Ostrum BJ (1977) Diagnosis of isodense subdural hematomas by computed tomography. AJR 129:693–697
Markwalder T-M (1981) Chronic subdural hematomas: a review. J Neurosurg 54:637–645
Mori K, Handa J, Itoh M, Okuno T (1980) Benign subdural effusion in infants. J Comput Assist Tomogr 4:466–471
Zatz LM, Jernigan TL, Ahumada AJ (1982) Changes on computed cranial tomography with aging: intracranial fluid volume. AJNR 3:1–11
Bydder GM, Steiner RE, Young IR (1982) Clinical NMR imaging of the brain: 140 cases. AJNR 3:459–480
Brant-Zawadzki M, David PL, Crooks LE (1983) NMR demonstration of cerebral abnormalities: comparison with CT. AJNR 4:117–124
Alfidi RJ, Haaga JR, El Yousef SF (1982) Preliminary experimental results in humans and animals with a superconducting, whole-body, nuclear magnetic resonance scanner. Radiology 143:175–181
Young IR, Burl M, Clarke GJ (1981) Magnetic resonance properties of hydrogen: imaging the posterior fossa. AJR 137:895–901
Crooks LE, Mills CM, David PL (1982) Visualization of cerebral and vascular abnormalities by NMR imaging. The effects or imaging parameters on contrast. Radiology 144:843–852
Fishman RA (1980) Composition of cerebrospinal fluid. In: Saunders WB (ed) Cerebrospinal fluid in diseases of the nervous system. Philadelphia, PA, pp 168–252
Go KG, Edzes HT (1975) Water in brain edema. Observations by the pulsed nuclear magnetic resonance technique. Arch Neurol 32:462–465
Hoffman HJ, Hendrick EB, Humphreys RP, Armstrong EA (1982) Investigation and management of suprasellar archnoid cysts. J Neurosurg 57:597–602
Leo JS, Pinto RS, Hulvat GF, Epstein F, Kricheff II (1979) Computed tomography of arachnoid cysts. Radiology 130:675–680
Han JS, Kaufman B, Alfidi RJ, Yeung HN, Benson JE, haaga JR, El Yousef SJ, Clampitt ME, Bonstelle CT, Huss R (1984) Head trauma evaluated by magnetic resonance and computed tomography: A comparison. Radiology 150:71–77
Mills CM, Crooks, LE, Kaufman L, Brant-Zawadzki M (1984) Cerebral abnormalities: Use of calculated T1 and T2 magnetic resonance images for diagnosis. Radiology 150:87–94
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Brant-Zawadzki, M., Kelly, W., Kjos, B. et al. Magnetic resonance imaging and characterization of normal and abnormal intracranial cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) spaces. Neuroradiology 27, 3–8 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00342509
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00342509