Application of MR virtual endoscopy in children with hydrocephalus

Purpose: To evaluate the performance of MR virtual endoscopy (MRVE) in children with hydrocephalus. Materials and methods: Clinical and imaging data were collected from 15 pediatric patients with hydrocephalus and 15 normal control children. All hydrocephalus patients were confirmed by ventriculoscopy or CT imaging. The cranial 3D-T1 weighted imaging data from fast spoiled gradient echo scan (FSPGR) were transported to working station. VE images of cerebral ventricular cavity were constructed with Navigator software. Results: Cerebral ventricular MRVE can achieve similar results as ventriculoscopy in demonstrating the morphology of ventricular wall or intracavity lesion. In addition, MRVE can observe the lesion from distal end of obstruction, as well as other areas that are inaccessible to ventriculoscopy. MRVE can also reveal the pathological change of ventricular inner wall surface, and help determine patency of the cerebral aqueduct and fourth ventricle outlet. Conclusion: MR virtual endoscopy provides a non-invasive diagnostic modality that can be used as a supplemental approach to ventriculoscopy. However, its sensitivity and specificity need to be determined in the large study. (C) 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.