Endoscopic third ventriculocisternostomy: MR assessment of patency with 2-D cine phase-contrast versus T2-weighted fast spin echo technique.

PURPOSE

To determine if fast spin-echo T2 (FSE) is of equal value to flow-sensitive 2D cine phase-contrast (CPC) to assess patency of endoscopic third ventriculocisternostomies (VC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We reviewed clinical charts and MR scans of 27 patients who underwent third VC for treatment of obstructive hydrocephalus. Thirty-nine postoperative scans included both sequences and were assessed for the presence or absence of flow-related signal changes.

RESULTS

In 28 cases, FSE, CPC, and clinical findings suggested patency. In 1 case, CPC and FSE suggested occlusion, which was confirmed clinically and operatively. In the remaining cases, FSE showed better clinical correlation than did CPC.

CONCLUSION

The assessment of third VC patency with FSE, a sequence available on most clinical scanners without a requirement for special hardware and software, is at least as sensitive in the qualitative assessment of VC function as CPC.