Approaches for the Estimation of Pulse Wave Velocity in the Spinal Canal

This pilot study describes approaches for the estimation of the pulse wave velocity (PWV) of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the upper spinal canal. The movement of CSF was non-invasively measured using phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (PCMRI) technique. Two main approaches were used to calculate PWV. The approaches relied on different types of images: sagittal and axial images. For the method using axial images, the PWV was calculated using four different time delays. This preliminary investigation indicated that the most reliable method used axial images and the waveforms' onset times to calculate PWV. CSF's PWV may be of importance in a condition known as Chiari Malformation (CM), a brain disorder in which the cerebral tonsils herniate into the spinal canal. The present study investigated the PWV of CSF in five healthy volunteers compared to that of five symptomatic CM patients.