Characteristics of cerebrospinal fluid circulation in infants as detected with MR velocity imaging

Analysis of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow and motion at the craniospinal junction was conducted by magnetic resonance velocity imaging with phase encoding followed by motion velocity integration. Thirteen normal subjects classified into two groups were studied: an infant group with open sutures and fontanel, and a noninfant group with closed sutures and fontanel. Predominance in CSF to-and-fro motion was recognized in the ventral subarachnoid space, and a maximum caudad motion velocity of 7.5 +/- 2.4 mm/s was recorded in the infant group and one of 14.9 +/- 6.2 mm/s in the noninfant group. The average bulk flow velocity in all cases was 86.7 +/- 81.6 (means +/- SD) mm/min. The difference in flow velocity between the infant group (19.7 +/- 28.2 mm/min) and the noninfant group (116.5 +/- 80 mm/min) suggested that the CSF circulation around the cervical spine may vary at different ages.