• Jérôme Hodel, Jonathan Silvera, Olivier Bekaert, Alain Rahmouni, Sylvie Bastuji-Garin, Alexandre Vignaud, Eric Petit, Bruno Durning, and Philippe Decq.
• Unité Analyse et Restauration du mouvement, UMR-CNRS, 8005 LBM ParisTech Ensam, Paris, France. jerome.hodel@hmn.aphp.fr
• Eur Radiol. 2011 Feb 1;21(2):402-10.

ObjectiveTo assess the three-dimensional turbo spin echo with variable flip-angle distribution magnetic resonance sequence (SPACE: Sampling Perfection with Application optimised Contrast using different flip-angle Evolution) for the imaging of intracranial cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) spaces.MethodsWe prospectively investigated 18 healthy volunteers and 25 patients, 20 with communicating hydrocephalus (CH), five with non-communicating hydrocephalus (NCH), using the SPACE sequence at 1.5T. Volume rendering views of both intracranial and ventricular CSF were obtained for all patients and volunteers. The subarachnoid CSF distribution was qualitatively evaluated on volume rendering views using a four-point scale. The CSF volumes within total, ventricular and subarachnoid spaces were calculated as well as the ratio between ventricular and subarachnoid CSF volumes.ResultsThree different patterns of subarachnoid CSF distribution were observed. In healthy volunteers we found narrowed CSF spaces within the occipital aera. A diffuse narrowing of the subarachnoid CSF spaces was observed in patients with NCH whereas patients with CH exhibited narrowed CSF spaces within the high midline convexity. The ratios between ventricular and subarachnoid CSF volumes were significantly different among the volunteers, patients with CH and patients with NCH.ConclusionThe assessment of CSF spaces volume and distribution may help to characterise hydrocephalus.

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