Review article
https://doi.org/10.3325/cmj.2021.62.399
Cerebrospinal fluid dynamics
Shinya Yamada
; Department of Neurosurgery, Kugayama Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
Abstract
The classical cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) circulation theory
has been accepted as an established theory of CSF physiology. It describes bulk CSF flow from production site to absorption site. However, much controversy remains regarding the basic CSF physiology and the mechanisms behind
the development of hydrocephalus. In the recent observations made using advanced magnetic resonance imaging
(MRI) technique, namely, the time spatial inversion pulse
(Time-SLIP) method, CSF was used as internal CSF tracer to
trace true CSF movement. Observation of the CSF dynamics using this method reveals aspects of CSF dynamics that
are different from those of classical CSF circulation theory. Cerebrospinal fluid shows pulsation but does not show
bulk flow from production site to absorption site, a theory
that was built upon externally injected tracer studies. Observation of the exogeneous tracer studies were true but
misinterpreted. Causes of misinterpretations are the differences between results obtained using the true CSF tracer
and exogenous tracers. A better understanding of the real
CSF physiology can be significant for the advancement of
medical sciences in the future. Revisiting CSF flow physiology is a necessary step toward this goal.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
278452
URI
Publication date:
26.8.2021.
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