Use of Magnetic Resonance Imaging to Measure Intracranial Cerebrospinal Fluid Volume

Magnetic resonance imaging was used to measure intracranial extraventricular and ventricular cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) volume. In 10 normal subjects lateral ventricular and extraventricular intracranial CSF volumes were 25.3 +/- 4.6 ml (mean +/- SD) and 97.6 +/- 6.6 ml, respectively (total 122.8 +/- 38.7). These volumes were measured in 4 patients and the results were: 11.0 ml ventricular volume, 68.7 ml total cranial CSF in the patient with benign intracranial hypertension; 606.6 ml ventricular, 174.1 ml total in the patient with hydrocephalus due to a blocked ventriculo-peritoneal (V-P) shunt; 83.4 ml ventricular, 108.5 ml total in the patient with normal pressure hydrocephalus; and 52.7 ml ventricular, 181.0 ml total in the patient with cerebral atrophy due to Alzheimer's disease. The technique gave highly reproducible results (SD less than 5.7% of mean value). It may be useful in differential diagnosis and as an objective means of monitoring therapy or progress in conditions such as cerebral atrophy, hydrocephalus, and benign intracranial hypertension.