OBJECTIVE: We analyzed the reliability of a protocol for measuring quantitative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow at the cerebral aqueduct and established the range of CSF flows in normal elderly @entity1 , @entity1 with Alzheimer's and other forms of @entity303 , and @entity1 with @entity5083 ( @entity5083 ). METHODS: A constant flow phantom was used to establish the accuracy of the CSF flow measurement. The clinical variability of the measurement was estimated by calculating the standard deviations and coefficients of variation of intra- and interobserver and intertrial data sets derived from three normal volunteers. A total of 236 @entity1 were studied, including 47 normal elderly @entity1 , 115 @entity1 with @entity73 (9 with mild @entity73 , 46 with @entity195 , and 60 with other @entity73 ), 31 @entity1 in whom @entity5083 was suspected but ultimately excluded, and 43 @entity1 with a final clinical diagnosis of @entity5083 . RESULTS: The intraobserver, interobserver, and intertrial measurement variations of 6.4, 5.4, and 8.8%, respectively, were substantially smaller than the wide variation observed among subjects. There was no statistically significant difference in flow between normal elderly @entity1 and @entity1 with @entity73 (P = 0.91). When these populations were pooled, the average flow was 8.47 ml/min (standard deviation, 4.23; range, 0.9-18.5 ml/min). The average flow rate in @entity1 with a final clinical diagnosis of @entity5083 was 27.4 ml/min (standard deviation, 15.3; range, 3.13-62.2 ml/min). This was significantly higher than the flow rate in each of the other three groups (all, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: CSF flow measurements of less than 18 ml/min with a sinusoidal flow pattern are normal. CSF flow of greater than 18 ml/min suggests idiopathic @entity5083 .

Measurement of cerebrospinal fluid flow at the cerebral aqueduct by use of phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging: technique validation and utility in diagnosing XXXX .

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients'] @entity303 :: ('MESH:D003704', 'Disease') :: ['dementia'] @entity73 :: ('MESH:D003072', 'Disease') :: ['cognitive impairment'] @entity195 :: ('MESH:D000544', 'Disease') :: ["Alzheimer's disease"] @entity5083 :: ('MESH:D006850', 'Disease') :: ['idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus', 'NPH']
@entity5083 :: (MESH:D006850,Disease) :: ['idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus']
