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Spinal Compliance Curves: Preliminary Experience with a New Tool for Evaluating Suspected CSF Venous Fistulas on CT Myelography in Patients with Spontaneous Intracranial Hypotension.
- Source :
-
AJNR. American journal of neuroradiology [AJNR Am J Neuroradiol] 2021 May; Vol. 42 (5), pp. 986-992. Date of Electronic Publication: 2021 Feb 18. - Publication Year :
- 2021
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Abstract
- Background and Purpose: Craniospinal space compliance reflects the distensibility of the spinal and intracranial CSF spaces as a system. Craniospinal space compliance has been studied in intracranial pathologies, but data are limited in assessing it in spinal CSF leak. This study describes a method to estimate craniospinal space compliance using saline infusion during CT myelography and explores the use of craniospinal space compliance and pressure-volume curves in patients with suspected cerebrospinal-venous fistula.<br />Materials and Methods: Patients with suspected cerebrospinal-venous fistula underwent dynamic CT myelography. During the procedure, 1- to 5-mL boluses of saline were infused, and incremental changes in CSF pressure were recorded. These data were used to plot craniospinal space compliance curves. We calculated 3 quantitative craniospinal space compliance parameters: overall compliance, compliance at opening pressure, and the pressure volume index. These variables were compared between patients with confirmed cerebrospinal-venous fistula and those with no confirmed source of CSF leak.<br />Results: Thirty-four CT myelograms in 22 patients were analyzed. Eight of 22 (36.4%) patients had confirmed cerebrospinal-venous fistulas. Bolus infusion was well-tolerated with no complications and transient headache in 2/34 (5.8%). Patients with confirmed cerebrospinal-venous fistulas had higher compliance at opening pressure and overall compliance (2.6 versus 1.8 mL/cm H <subscript>2</subscript> 0, P < .01). There was no difference in the pressure volume index (77.5 versus 54.3 mL, P = .13) between groups.<br />Conclusions: A method of deriving craniospinal space compliance curves using saline intrathecal infusion is described. Preliminary analysis of craniospinal space compliance curves provides qualitative and quantitative information about pressure-volume dynamics and may serve as a diagnostic tool in patients with known or suspected cerebrospinal-venous fistulas.<br /> (© 2021 by American Journal of Neuroradiology.)
- Subjects :
- Adult
Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak complications
Female
Humans
Intracranial Hypotension etiology
Male
Middle Aged
Retrospective Studies
Veins
Cerebrospinal Fluid Pressure physiology
Fistula complications
Fistula diagnostic imaging
Intracranial Hypotension diagnostic imaging
Myelography methods
Tomography, X-Ray Computed methods
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1936-959X
- Volume :
- 42
- Issue :
- 5
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- AJNR. American journal of neuroradiology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 33602750
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.3174/ajnr.A7018