In vivo analysis of physiological 3D blood flow of cerebral veins

Objectives To visualize and quantify physiological blood flow of intracranial veins in vivo using time-resolved, 3D phase-contrast MRI (4D flow MRI), and to test measurement accuracy. Methods Fifteen healthy volunteers underwent repeated ECG-triggered 4D flow MRI (3 Tesla, 32-channel head coil). Int...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:European radiology 2015-08, Vol.25 (8), p.2371-2380
Main Authors: Schuchardt, Florian, Schroeder, Laure, Anastasopoulos, Constantin, Markl, Michael, Bäuerle, Jochen, Hennemuth, Anja, Drexl, Johann, Valdueza, José M., Mader, Irina, Harloff, Andreas
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Accuracy
Adult
Blood Flow Velocity - physiology
Cerebral Veins - physiology
Cerebrovascular Circulation - physiology
Cranial Sinuses - physiology
Diagnostic Radiology
Female
Flow velocity
Hemodynamics
Humans
Imaging
Imaging, Three-Dimensional
Internal Medicine
Interventional Radiology
Magnetic Resonance
Magnetic Resonance Angiography
Male
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
Multimodal Imaging
Neuroradiology
Physiology
Prospective Studies
Radiology
Reproducibility
Reproducibility of Results
Sinus Thrombosis, Intracranial - physiopathology
Sinuses
Software
Thrombosis
Ultrasonic imaging
Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex
Ultrasound
Veins & arteries
Visualization
Young Adult
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Summary:Objectives To visualize and quantify physiological blood flow of intracranial veins in vivo using time-resolved, 3D phase-contrast MRI (4D flow MRI), and to test measurement accuracy. Methods Fifteen healthy volunteers underwent repeated ECG-triggered 4D flow MRI (3 Tesla, 32-channel head coil). Intracranial venous blood flow was analysed using dedicated software allowing for blood flow visualization and quantification in analysis planes at the superior sagittal, straight, and transverse sinuses. MRI was evaluated for intra- and inter-observer agreement and scan-rescan reproducibility. Measurements of the transverse sinuses were compared with transcranial two-dimensional duplex ultrasound. Results Visualization of 3D blood flow within cerebral sinuses was feasible in 100 % and within at least one deep cerebral vein in 87 % of the volunteers. Blood flow velocity/volume increased along the superior sagittal sinus and was lower in the left compared to the right transverse sinus. Intra- and inter-observer reliability and reproducibility of blood flow velocity (mean difference 0.01/0.02/0.02 m/s) and volume (mean difference 0.0002/-0.0003/0.00003 l/s) were good to excellent. High/low velocities were more pronounced (8 % overestimation/9 % underestimation) in MRI compared to ultrasound. Conclusions Four-dimensional flow MRI reliably visualizes and quantifies three-dimensional cerebral venous blood flow in vivo and is promising for studies in patients with sinus thrombosis and related diseases. Key Points • 4D flow MRI can be used to visualize and quantify physiological cerebral venous haemodynamics • Flow quantification within cerebral sinuses reveals high reliability and accuracy of 4D flow MRI • Blood flow volume and velocity increase along the superior sagittal sinus • Limited spatial resolution currently precludes flow quantification in small cerebral veins
ISSN:0938-7994
1432-1084
DOI:10.1007/s00330-014-3587-x