Aqueduct pressure gradient quantified by MRI in hydrocephalus populations.

Motivation: Hydrocephalus pathophysiology is not completely known and new investigations of CSF oscillations due to cardiac pulsations, probable origin of the ventricle dilation, can be helpful. Goal(s): To calculate non-invasively intracranial pressure difference in the aqueduct in hydrocephalus patients using MRI. Approach: We developed a dedicated software to automatically quantify the largest ventricle surface area, the CSF flow oscillations and aqueduct morphology dimensions. Using the Poiseuille equation, we calculated the intracranial pressure difference across the aqueduct. Results: Resistance and pressure difference in the aqueduct were significantly smaller in hydrocephalus patients than in healthy populations. Impact: Studying aging healthy individuals, hydrocephalus patients without improvement after shunt, Alzheimer's populations may reveal new biomarkers to improve diagnosis and patient selection for shunt surgery. Such investigations will deepen our knowledge of the physiopathology of ventricle dilation and CSF clearance.