Imaging of the Choroid Plexus Using Perfusion MR Imaging: Is It Possible?

Olivier Baledent¹, Bader Chaarani¹, Olivier Pottie¹, Catherine Gondry-Jouet², Jadwiga Zmudka³, Jean-Marie Serot³, Roger Bouzerar¹

The cerebrospinal fluid is produced in the highly vascularized choroid plexus (CP). Our goal is to evaluate dynamic T2*-weighted perfusion MR imaging for assessment of CP functionality. Gradient-echo EPI sequences were performed in 15 patients after bolus injection of gadolinium-based contrast agent. The MR signal modeled in terms of the combined T1- and T2-effects allowed the extraction of a capillary permeability parameter K2. Mean volume of CP was 2124 mm3 and mean permeability factor was 0.033 s-1. K2 significantly decreased with subject's age whereas mean transit time significantly increased. Clinical applications such as neurodegenerative diseases could be considered.