Radiological analysis of cerebrospinal fluid dynamics at the craniovertebral junction using time-spatial labeling inversion pulse magnetic resonance imaging in patients with cervical spinal canal stenosis.

OBJECTIVE: Spondylotic changes in the cervical spine cause degeneration, leading to cervical spinal canal stenosis. This stenotic change can affect cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) dynamics by compressing the dural sac and reducing space in the subarachnoid space. We examined CSF dynamics at the craniovertebral junction (CVJ) using time-spatial labeling inversion pulse magnetic resonance imaging (Time-SLIP MRI) in patients with cervical spinal canal stenosis.

METHODS: The maximum longitudinal movement of the CSF at the CVJ was measured as length of motion (LOM) in the Time-SLIP MR image of 56 patients. The sum of ventral and dorsal LOM was defined as the total LOM. Patients were classified into three groups depending on their spinal sagittal MRI findings: control (n=27, Kang classification grades 0 and 1), stenosis (n=14, Kang classification grade 2), and severe stenosis (n=15, Kang classification grade 3).

RESULTS: Time-SLIP MRI revealed pulsatile movement of the CSF at the CVJ. The mean total, ventral, and dorsal LOM was 14.2 ± 9, 8.1 ± 5.7, and 3.8 ± 2.9 mm, respectively. The ventral LOM was significantly larger than the dorsal LOM. The total LOM was significantly smaller in the severe stenosis group (6.1 ± 3.4 mm) than in the control (16.0 ± 8.4 mm) or stenosis (11 ± 5.4 mm) groups (p < 0.001, Kruskal-Wallis H-test). In five patients, postoperative total LOM was improved after adequate decompression surgery.

CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that CSF dynamics at the CVJ are influenced by cervical spinal canal stenosis. Time-SLIP MRI is useful for evaluating CSF dynamics at the CVJ in patients with spinal canal stenosis.