Dynamics of Cerebrospinal Fluid: From Theoretical Models to Clinical Applications

Modeling of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) circulation usually differs from models of brain tissue deformation. Hydrodynamics of CSF and its links with cerebral blood flow (CBF) are here of interest, as opposed to displacement of anatomical structures or distribution of stress-strain in the brain tissue in deformation modeling. In clinical­ practice, dynamics of the pressure may be easily monitored (although invasively, with directly placed pressure transducers) and dynamics of CSF flow and CBF can be imaged with phase-coded MRI (PCMRI; noninvasively). These two methods have an established clinical application in diagnosis and management of diseases associated with CSF circulatory dysfunctions, like hydrocephalus of various types, idiopathic intracranial hypertension, syringomieylia, etc.