Quantitative evaluation of normal aqueductal cerebrospinal fluid flow using phase-contrast cine MRİ according to age and sex

Aim: The aim of this study was cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow quantification in the cerebral aqueduct using phase-contrast cine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) according to both sexes and three different age groups to obtain normative data. Material and Method: 72 volunteers with no cerebral pathology were included in this study. Subjects were divided into three age groups: 20-34 years, 35-49 years and ≥50 years including equal gender groups. CSF flow's quantitatively evaluation was performed with images that were obtained by 1.5 T MR unit from cerebral aqueduct level on the semi-axial plan. Between groups, peak velocity (cm/s), average velocity (cm/s), forward volume (mL), reverse volume (mL), net forward volume (mL), and average flow over range (mL/min) values of current flowing through aqueduct and average aqueductal areas were compared. Results: There were no statistically significant differences in CSF flow parameters among different age groups and between sexes (p>0.05). There was a statistically significant difference in average cerebral aqueduct area between the age group of ≥50 years and the other age groups (p=0.002). The average aqueductal area was higher in the age group of ≥50 years. Conclusion: Normal aqueductal CSF flow parameters evaluated with phase-contrast cine MRI don't show a significant difference by age and sex. We have achieved the lower and upper values of these parameters would be useful in future clinical studies. The size of aquduktal area may also be explained by atrophy-dependent ventricular system dilatation in the elderly. Keywords: Age, aquaductus cerebri, CSF, sex.