Semiautomatic Segmentation and Quantification of Volume, T2 Relaxation Time and Mean Diffusivity of the Human Brain CSF Compartments Across the Lifespan

Khader M. Hasan¹, Ponnada A. Narayana¹

Due to its close interplay with the vasculature, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) serves as a chemical conduit in intracranial pressure regulation and chemical function. Whole brain, sulcal and ventricular CSF volumes have been used as a marker of normal brain development and aging and atrophy in a host of pathologies, including closed traumatic brain injuries. In addition CSF chemical and metabolic content serves as a robust biomarker of neural degeneration. A comprehensive analysis of normative CSF compartmental volumetry, relaxometry and diffusimetry has not been described previously using quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (qMRI). In this report, we applied novel and validated atlas-based segmentation methods for a detailed investigation of age dependent qMRI changes in the CSF compartments in both men and women