Abstract #0100

The role of brain viscoelasticity in chronically shunted hydrocephalus using Magnetic Resonance Elastography

Kristy Tan¹, Adam L. Sandler², Avital Meiri¹, Rick Abbott², James T. Goodrich², Eric Barnhill³, and Mark E. Wagshul¹

¹Gruss MRRC, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States, ²Department of Neurological Surgery, Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, Bronx NY, Bronx, NY, United States, ³Clinical Research Imaging Centre, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Hydrocephalus patients with functioning shunts are often faced with severe headache disorders. This is believed to be due to a change in brain viscoelasticity. MRE uses external mechanical vibrations to induce waves and estimates viscoelasticity from the wave propagation. This study found a significant decrease of brain viscoelasticity in patients (N=14) compared to controls (N=12) (G* white matter, controls: 1407.82 (SD=111.3) Pa vs patients: 1099.33 (SD=262.86) Pa, p =0.0001). Additionally, an inverse correlation between ventricular volume and viscoelasticity in corresponding lobes was found indicating that brain viscoelasticity may play a role in hydrocephalus patient’s symptoms such as headaches.

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