[Phase contrast magnetic resonance imaging of cerebrospinal fluid flow through the aqueduct of sylvius in chronic tension-type headache].

OBJECTIVE

To study the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow through the aqueduct of sylvius in chronic tension-type headache patients with phase contrast magnetic resonance imaging.

METHODS

Phase contrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the CSF flow through the aqueduct was obtained from 17 patients with chronic tension-type headache and 26 control subjects. A software for CSF flow was applied for MRI data analysis both qualitatively and quantitatively.

RESULTS

The CSF through the aqueduct flew in the caudal and cranial directions with the rhythm of the heartbeat in both groups. There were 2 types of flow curves: the smooth "U" and the wave, which were 25 vs 1 in the controls and 11 vs 6 in the patients (P<0.05), respectively. The mean caudocranial flow rate through the aqueduct was (0.235±0.157) mL/s vs (0.133±0.106) mL/s (P<0.05) and the velocity was (6.023±2.654) cm/s vs (3.479±2.364) cm/s (P<0.05), and the mean craniocaudal flow rate was (-0.358±0.201) mL/s vs (-0.190±0.141) mL/s (P<0.05) and the velocity was (-8.263±3.020) cm/s vs (-4.788±2.862) cm/s (P<0.05), respectively.

CONCLUSION

The CSF flow curve, rate and velocity through the aqueduct in the patients with chronic tension-type headache is anomalous in comparison with the controls.